LOCAL AND GENERAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 4 February 1930, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Webster, the long-distance swimmer, who has been in Nelson for some time preparing for his attempt this month to swim Cook Strait, has been putting in steady work under Trainer Blomfield. Webster and his.trainer are at present in the Takaka district, but are expected to return to Nelson to-morrow and leave for Wellington in the evening. It is uncertain on what particular date the attempt will be made, and no definite information is yet forthcoming as to where the start will be made from. "You New Zealanders are of a different type from the average Australian. He is a bit of a lone horse, but the New Zealander is big in every way, physically included. My wife and I have very pleasant recollections of meeting some New Zealanders, fine men and charming fellows, who passed through Sydney on their way back after the war." —Mr Cecil Hordern, a prominent business man, in an interview in Christchurch.

A meeting of joint representatives of the Canterbury Trades Unions, held last week, decided to write to Mr James Roberts, who was the selected leader of the workers' section at the Industrial Conference convened by the Government in 1928, urging him to endeavour to get the Government to give effect to the joint representations of that conference on workers' compensation and also to endeavour to obtain adequate representation of workers on the committee shortly io be set up by the Government to deal with that subject. The recommendations of the conference were: (1) That, with certain specified exceptions, insurance be compulsory; (2) that tho Government shoujld carefully investigate the system in force in Ontario, with the view of adopting it, or portion of it, in New Zealand ; (3) that in cases of lump-sum payments the Court he empowered to make the payment in such a way as will give protection to all dependents, appointing if necessary guardians for children.

In the new Civic Theatre at Auckland, which has atmospheric effects, the wide vault of sky-ceiling covers over 3000 square yards. The roof trusses are of steel and up to 150 ft in length. There are ten major trusses, each weighing about 15 tons. The whole of the sky-ceiling was painted entirely in under eight hours, 30 men being employed and over two tons of paint being used. Paintings, deep carpets, luxuriously upholstered seats, appropriately dressed attendants and gaily coloured curtains and lights all help to make the Civic Theatre one of the most elaborately decorated and appointed picture theatres in the world.

A runholder in conversation with "Straggler" of the Christchurch "Press" mentioned, as indicating the extent to which wool-growers have their "outs" as well as their "ins," that his wnoi] cheque last year was £14,000; this year it would be £7OOO. A second grower lust season secured £I3OO. and this year, with one bale less, his return was £625. Had the wool of these vendors not been sold at the earlier sales the difference would have been much greater.

In order to afford residents an opportunity of visiting Kawatiri, the present rail terminus, or of visiting their friends in the country, the Railway Department is running an excursion train ;-t reduced fares on Sunday, 9th February. Kawatiri being situated at the junction of the Hope and Bullcr rivers, in an ideal picnic resort. We specialise in outfits for Nelson. Girls' College. Correct regulation style and best quality in all goods. McKay's." Indian Head, all colours now 1/U£ yard.—Tralhen's famous Sale Price.* College outfitting for Nelson Girls' College is best done at McKay's.*

Mr W. Lock, representative of the I Nelson Chamber of Commerce on tlie recent. Commerce Train tour of North of Auckland districts, has good reason to bo proud of the reception of his official report of the trip, as conveyed to him by representative men. The General Manager of Railways (Mr H. H. Sterling) alter complimenting Mr Lock on. the. article (as published in "Tho Mail"), as "a wonderful job," added: "It certainly reviews the tour very thoroughly and brings out the most interesting points." Mr J. W. Collings, Secretary of the Department of Industries and" Commerce, after extending congratulations, said: ''lt reviews the chief points of the tour very ably.'' "Needless to say," wrote H.M. Trade Commissioner (Mr Paish), "I have read it with very much interest, and cannot but envy you your graphic descriptive powers." Mr O. J. The'dens', Austrian Trado Commissioner for New Zealand, described Mr Lock's report, as "wonderful." "There is no doubt," be said,

"that it is the best written report I have read about the tour sp far." Tho secretary of tho Auckland Chamber ot Commerce stated that he had read tho account with very great interest and complimented Mr Lock "upon its accuracy and interest." The President of the Auckland Chambers and others wrote similarly and all added personal felicitations.

With the advent of warm weather the attendance at the municipal baths has greatly increased, yesterday a record crowd being present. During the morning a number of swimmers returning from the Dominion championship meeting at Greymouth—including Messrs H. S. Claridge (Christchurch, A. T. F. "Stokes (Christchurch) and L. Annand (Opawa) were seen in action. The visitors spoke very highly of the baths, and stated that they would be admirably suited for a championship meeting. There was a time when English Leicester took quite a place in the sheep breeds of the Hawke's Bay province. The Romney in recent years, nowever, has steadily supplanted them and today in the whole of the North Island there are only four or five breeders of purebred Leicesters. On the drier parts of Hawke's Bay a few of the Romney flocks are tending to become tort fine in the wool and with the object of remedying this trouble, and at the same time improving lamb quality, a. few flockowners have decided to introduce some English Leicester blood into a section of their flocks. During the week, reports the Christchurch "Press", Messrs J. Miller (Otane), C. A. Williams (Pukehou), and S. R. Williams (Otane) visited Canterbury, and purchased from Mr E. S. Taylor (Waipara) 17 English Leicester rams, which were shipped north to the properties of the Messrs Williams.

As evidence of the disinclination to speculate in land a sheep proparty containing 1000 acres, with homestead thereon, in the Soutli Canterbury district, was recently sold for £3 5s an acre. The land was light, but healthy sheep country, every acre of it ploughable, and with adequate water resources. "In a case which is properly one for a civil action the police should not lend themselves as catspaws to have blame apportioned," said Mr Salmon, S.M., when, dismissing charges of breaches of motor regulations. The case arose out of a colllision on Christmas Day, one man being charged with failing to give way to traffic from the right and the other with failiivg to put out his right hand when about to turn. "In this case, as in may others, the police were called to the scene of the accident and on arrival they found the cars in certain positions with certain skidmarks visible,' said the magistrate after hearing evidence: "They took statements from both parties and that was all the evidence presented for the prosecution, and it is clearly insufficient. "The police, by charging both parties," added the magistrate, "created a triangular duel, relying upon the evidence of one party to convict another. They are not entitled to do so. The evidence for the police should be sufficient in itself to secure a conviction. The evidence of the respective parties is in direct conflict and it is impossible for the court to apportion blame."

Amusing use of alliteration was made by the author—whoever lie or she may have been —of the sports programme at the picnic held in connection with the Children's Special Service Mission at Brown's Bay (says the Auckland "Star"). The usual popular events were included, such as obstacle races, three-legged races and sack races, but novelty was added by the quaint descriptions which were applied to them. The boys' wheelbarrow race, for instance, was listed as "Bashful beginners' barrow bearing," and the girls' sack race as "Rollicking Roses rolling round," whilst the girls' obstacle event was "Obedient Olivias overcoming obstacles," and the boys' sack race was "Wobbling Willies wearily wandering." Another bright item was "Steady spinsters swiftly striding" (Girls' flat race), and one of the best of the collection was "Artful Archibald's 'arrowing amblings," as the boys' obstacle race was described.

'"Tramper" writes to the Auckland "Star": "In his reminiscences Captain Weston, who was adrift in the steamer Waikato so many days, tells feelingly of how sick they got of sardines, herrings, macaroni and biscuit's, which they had to broach. Anyone who has tried such a diet will sympathise with him, and know the agony behind that poignant memory. Two wayfarers were once tramping up Hunua way. They bought tins of sardines and a loaf of dry bread at Papakura; they slept cut that night in the scrub; they had sardines and bread for tea. Next morning they had less sardines and bread for breakfast. By lunch thev could not look at the stuff, could not force a morsel down. The very thought of sardine was repulsive. And it came to pass that the wayfarers covered many miles of highway and great was the dust, for it was midsummer. And as they journeyed by the way they communed with themselves, saying, "Peradventure at nightfall we shall tarry within the walls of Clevedon, which of aforetime was Wairoa South, and there eat of the fat beeves of the land, or of the young lambs thereof." When the sun was set they entered the caravanserai, washed and annc/inted themselves, arrayed themselves in such fine linen as they could find, and said unto the handmaiden, 'Bring food, we pray you, that we may eat.' And in due course she appeared bearing a platter, but the aroma was jiot the the aroma of the wayfarers imagination, and when it was placed nn the table there lay a mess of tinned fish, even the Ifbmely herring."

At the next session of the Queensland Parliament a Bill will be submitted having for its object the promotion of the organisation of the grazing industry in Queensland. The Bill provides for the formation of an organisation known as the Graziers' Association of Queensland, to consist of all graziers owning more than 500 cattle and horses, or more than 2000 sheep. The State is to be divided into districts, each of which will be controlled by a district council, consisting of a chairman and 20 members, who will be elected annually by ballot. The Bill proposes that power shall be given to make a general levy on graziers for administration purposes, but not exceeding £1 for 100 head of cattle and horses ,or 4s per 100 sheep, in any one year.

In the course of a. letter from the London correspondent of the "Press" it is stated that the Tig Industry Council of England and Wales recommends that the fine-boned type of Large White boar should bo used as sire for the production of commercial pigs; and in making this recommendation the Council claims to be following the lead oi the chief Continental countries from which the British market is at present largely supplied with bacon. It is further stated that 'the trend of farmer-opinion is increasing in favour of the Large White boar. This supports the policy of the New Zealand .Meal Producers' Board, which subsidises the Large White classes at the show's conducted by the Royal Agricultural Society. "Emphasis should be given to the fact that a wise policy of settlement and the distribution of a prosperous population will be the surest guarantee of peace in any country," states the report of the New Zealand Land Settlement and Development League, which was unanimously adopted at the last meeting of the council in Auckland. "Of' such vital importance is population of the right type to this Dominion that if people of our own blood are not available, wo should consider going even to the northern countries of Europe to turn to profit the natural resources of the Dominion. A wise opportunity appears to be available for publicity as to opportunities of settlement, in the proposed visit of British farmers early next month, and it seems extraordinary that no steps have been taken by those responsible to enable the league officially to meet the visitors."

In connection with the Nelson Rowing Club's campaign to raise funds to send crews to compete in the Picton regatta this month, a dance will be held in the Rowing Club shed on Thursday night.