LOCAL AND GENERAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 20 February 1931, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

At 2.5 o’clock this afternoon tho Nelson Fire Brigade received a call to a gorse and scrub fire behind Holland’s brewery, Waimea road. At last night’s meeting of the City Council the Mayor (Mr W. J. Moffatt) asked when the City Engineer would put the top-dressing on Trafalgar street. The Engineer stated that at present the Council was fairly short of tar but the work would be put in hand when the. Hardy and Tasman streets works were completed. A graceful compliment was paid to Mr W. H. A tack, former manager of the United Press Association, at the innual meeting of the association held yesterday, states a Press Association mesage from Rotorua. The chairman, Mr E. Abbey Jones, said he thought it fitting that Mr Atack should read tho minutes of the last meeting as he had done for 45 years, and thus bring his long association to a formal end. The suggestion was cordially endorsed, and Mr Atack acceded. The minutes were read and confirmed, and Mr Atack, later, was presented with a substantial cheque as a tribute to his outstanding ability and fidelity.

Fruit-exporters are advised in this issue that tho time for receiving fruit for the first boat has been extended to midday Monday next, on which day “Dunns” will be received. Beautiful frocks at J9/6! Trathen’s Sale ends Saturday morning.* Japanese Seaweed and Pure Paraffin, natural remedies for Constipation, combine in Lubrolax. Encourages wave-like, regular momements; non-habit-forming. Nees, Chemist, Hardy-st. Buxton’s for cheap shadow stripe art silk knitted Bloomers, women’s size only, all good shades. A snip, 3/6.'*

Sale ends to-morrow. Trathen’s double reduction prices.* For greater beauty add just n touch to the lips with a Godet Perfumed Lipstick. 'Obtainable in 6 different shades from W. McKay and Soi s, Ltd.* a Frocks ut 1/-, 5 Frocks at 2/(i! Trathen’s Sale ends to-morrow.*

The Mayor, Mr W. J. Moffatt, staled to-day that no persons had been authorised to canvass, collect or sell goods for the Earthquake Relief Fund. The whole collection in Nelson is by vountary donation at the appointed places.

The view that electric tramway systems are now practically doomed as a means of transport in Great Britain was expressed by Mr L. V. Moses, architect, of Auckland, who returned by the Maunganui after an extended tour abroad, states the “New Zealand Herald.” The Transport Commission, in judging that rail traction should be banned from British streets, had only followed public opinion which had long condemned this method of transport as cumbersome, inelastic, and inefficient, Mr Moses said. Motor-buses were rapidly taking the place of trams all over England, not only in thickly populated areas, but also in towns where the population was scattered, as in Auckland.

“Many of them have served their purpose,” said Mr J. Young, Curator of the Christchurch Botanical Gardens, referring to willow trees, in and about the city, which have died recently (reports the “Christchurch Times”). He stated that some of them had been planted as lon'g as seventy years ago, and thus had attained a good age, while a few had died as the result of the recent dry spell. A few trees were replaced last year, and several others will be replaced this year. It had been stated that a fungus growth had appeared with ill results on some of the trees, but Mr Young did not think the growth was responsible for the death of the trees.

Reporting to the Unemployment Board concerning his recent visit to Ohinemutu in connection with the board’s schemes, Mr G. Finn, a member of the board, stated that the .Maoris in that district were voluntarily paying the levy. They were not at all likely, said Mr Finn, to be obliged to seek assistance from the board, but desired to assist their pakeha friends in their industrial troubles. The Marine Department announces that,,it is making a. further effort to make cargo working more safe for those concerned and to further that end is inviting applications for competitive designs of safety cargo working hooks. An advertisement to that effect appears in this issue and particulars and competition conditions may bee seen at the Customhouse, Nelson, and at other offices of Superintendents of Mercantile Marine. While an application for lighting facilities for a trades sign was being discussed at last night’s City Council meeting Councillor G. P. Russell said it was generally talked of in the City that the Council did all in its power to prevent citizens making greater use of its services such as electric light’and gas. He considered the attitude of the Council at times appeared as if extra business was not wanted. He thought everything possible should be done to facilitate the use of the power, which would result in increased revenue. The Electrical Engineer was instructed to interview the applicant and make the best arrangements possible to make the power available.

With a view to ensuring an adequate coke supply to citizens during the winter the .Mayor (Mr W. J. Moffatt) suggested that outside sales be restricted, hut the City Engineer was of the opinion that the increased production of gas at the works in the finter would result in a sufficient supply of coke. For some fortunate beings transactions on the Stock Exchange are attended by most satisfactory financial results and in certain cases this can also be said pf exchange rate negotiations. An instance of this was given to a “Southland Times’-’ reporter by a well-known Bluff resident, who said that some time ago he was in possession of a five-pound Bank of England note. Desiring at the time to realise upon it he called on certain of the Invercargill hanks without success and rather than dispose of it at a loss, he retained the note. Later, in the course of conversation with a man on the Maheno, he offered to sell him the note for the sum of £5 10s, remarking that the other should have little difficulty in disposing of the note in Australia. The offer was accepted and when the Maheno arrived again at Bluff this week the Bluff resident learned from His friend that he had experienced no difficulty in selling the note in Australia and, moreover, had made a profit of thirty shillings on the transaction. In reply to the Mayor (Mr W. J. Moffatt) at last night’s meeting of the Council, tiie City Engineer said he was not afraid that the new brick building at the gasworks would not stand an earthquake.

The Mayor of Palmerston North prior to the commencement of the ordinary business of the local City Council this week, intimated that Councillor Guy had written to the clerk informing him that unless the meeting was held in a wooden building he would not be present'. “I presume that I must apologise for his absence,” added the Mayor. Councillor Guy was granted leave of absence (reports the “Standard”).

Mr H. E. Holland, M.P., has received the following letter from the Minister of Public Works: “I desire to explain in further reply to your letter of 14th January that relief workers are not entitled to payment for holidays. The restoration of the Nelson-Westport Main Highway was relief work and, in accordance with Departmental regulations men employed on that work were not entitled to payment for three statutory holidays last Christmas. When the work was nearing completion the District Engineer retained some of tlm best men on the highway, and 1 have, in the special circumstances arranged to classify this as a standard work, and for the men to be paid for Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day. The number of men who will benefit by this decision is fifteen.

Alfred Gould announces an extensive auction sale of real Irish linen to be held at the Y.M.C.A., Bridge street, on Thursday, Friday and Saturday next (26th, 27th, 28th'February respectively) at 11 a.in. and 2 p.m. each day. It will be remembered that Mr Ford held similar sales in Nelson four years ago. Loyal Nelson Lodge M.U., 1.0.0. F., will hold its fortnightly dance on Saturday evening.

Trophies have been donated for the winners at the tournament to be held at the Elite Miniature Golf Course on Saturday night. First round cards must be in by 9.30 p.m., after which one final round will be played. On Tuesday night a mixed foursome competition will be held.

Call at Buxton’s for ladies’ coloured crepe nightdresses, shades sky. pink, end white. Women’s size only. A gift, 2/6.*

Saturday morning bargains at Trathen’s, astonishingly low prices* Dr. Don’s Granules —medical prescription for Constipation. Hodgson’s Store, Wakefield, Motupiko and Murchison.*

fit) Hats 1/- each! Trathen’s Sale ends Saturday.*

Ladies’ coloured Smocks, all sizes and shades at Buxton’s, bargain at 5/11.* Wonderful bargains in ladies’ art silk Frocks, sleeves and flared skirts, all sizes, S.M.. W. 0., and 0.5., Buxton’s price 19/6.*

A stem of the lily Henryi bearing 300 flowers is on view in Mr H. Canning’s window in Hardy street, and is attracting much attention. It was grown by Ml- T. Winter, of Elliott street. It is not unusual for lilium Auratum to throw abnormal heads of bloom, but Henryi was not known to be freakish in this respect. The number of blooms is believed to be a record for any lily. Mr It. F. Batchelor, secretary of the Murchison Unemployment Committee, reports that 22 men have been engaged under the Unemployment Board’s No. 2 scheme, and that the amount paid out in subsidies is £IOO 6s. The amount allocated to the Murchison Committee to date is £l3O. The Murchison County Council, working in conjunction with the Local Unemployment Committee, started six men yesterday working under the Board’s No. 5 scheme, and bv next week it is hoped to have all the local unemployed working under this scheme. The total number of registered unemployed in Murchison is 53.

“Unfortunately it has been the duty of coroners throughout New Zealand in recent years to hold inquests on people killed as a result of motor accidents,” said Mr E. D. Mosley, Coroner, before giving his verdict at an inquest held at Kaiapoi, reports the Christchurch

“Times.” The proportion of motor accidents in New Zealand, he added, was fairly heavy, though not as high as in some other countries. “But our object should be to see that in New Zealand the proportion is a jolly sight less,” said Mr Mosley. “There is not the slightest reason why some 200 lives a year should be sacrificed in this country under the ‘juggernaut’ wheels of motor cars. We should aim to lessen that number and we can do that only by the exercise of the greatest possible care on the part of drivers. They should not do anything that would tend to lessen their power of control over the machines they are driving.”

At last night’s meeting of the City Council the City Engineer suggested that the iron fence at the Gasworks be replaced with a lower type of fence to enable traffic coming out of the works yard to see along the road. The Engineers’ suggestion was adopted.

Strong disapproval of the habit of giving “tips” in New Zealand was voiced to a Southland “Times” reporter by an Australian visitor to Invercargill. “The tipping system is a pernicious one,” he declared, “and, in my opinion, is most inequitable. In the hotels, for instance, one naturally follows the custom and ‘treats’ the waitress and the porter, but there are many working behind the scenes who are equally deserving of recognition, but who do not share in the common fund. What about the pantry maid? She never comes into contact with the tourist or the traveller and hence receives not a penny. I recognise that tipping can never be abolished (notwithstanding the numerous notices to that effect which we visitors frequently see adorning many establishments) but why not adopt the Continental system? When I visited France, Germany and other countries abroad, I did not tip individual employees for the simple reason that an additional 10 per cent for tips to the staff is always added to one’s hotel account. That percentage goes to a common fund which is equally divided among all the workers, -a much fairer arrangement than pertains in this country. The tipping charge is generally accepted by the traveller as a matter of course, though I have known of cases where, upon objection being raised against it, the hotel authorities have waived the payment thereof. But the system has one distinct advantage in that a visitor knows where his duties and liabilities start and where they finish.”

The manager of the Nelson Abbatoir (Mr G. W. Mitchell) reported to last night’s meeting of the City Council that. details of stock slaughtered during the fortnight ending yesterday were as follows: —Cattle 66, calves 14, sheep 786, lambs 366, pigs 40, total 1272.

Chaffed by his “Cobbers” in the commercial room about the quality of the cheap (and nasty) cigarettes he was smoking a well-known “traveller” explained to the boys how it was. “You see,” he said, “when I’ve collected 2000 of these wrappers I get a gramophone free, gratis, for nothing!” “My dear chap,” remarked somebody, “if you smoke 2000 of those things it’s not a gramophone you’ll be wanting—it’s a harp!” There sure is a fearful amount of inferior “weed” on the market—stuff cram full of nicotine, and bound to do you. in, if you go on smoking it even though you’re as strong as a horse! Many of the imported baccies are like that. But why smoke them when you can get pure New Zealand toasted tobacco at the nearest tobacconist’s? This beautiful leaf is practically, free from nicotine. The toasting eliminates most of the poison and you can smoke freely without risk of consequences. There are only four brands: ltiverhead Gold, Cavendish, Navy Cut No. 3 and Cut Plug No. 10. All famous ’ for flavour and bouquet !*

Medical science has formulated a certain and safe remedy for chronic constipation. This prescription, Dr. Don s Granules, is a vegetable extract, active, yet non habit-forming. 1/6 per box. Obtainable from R. W. Martin, Chemist.*