LOCAL AND GENERAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 17 June 1932, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Showery weather yesterday developed into a heavy downpour towards evening, accompanied by a blustering southeasterly wind. For the preceding 24 hours up to 9 o’clock this morning 1.22 in. of rain fell, making 1.68 in. for the month ancl 17.48 in. for the year to date. To-day the weather was still unsettled.

At- a meeting of the Wellington City Council last night a motion was moved by Councillor W. Duncan to dispense with the services of the city organist, Mr Page. 'The council decided to set up a committee to present a full report to the next meeting with a view to reorganising all matters connected with the position of city organist.—Press Association.

“In view of it being mentioned in the Press that legislation is pi-oposed at the next session for the passing of an Act to register fowls and eggs, that this executive deems it is high time that any more of such proposed childish legislation should be cut out, and the country and the farmers saved from being put to any further waste of time in branding eggs, filling up more returns, and facing further costs in such times when it is so necessary to curtail expense to both the Government and the producers.” The above is the text of a remit from the Nightcaps branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union which will come before the Southland Provincial Executive for consideration at its monthly meeting to-morrow.

A few of the larger cheese factories in the South Island Dairy Association are still operating, but the majority are closed for the winter (says the Dunedin “Star”). The volume of cheese production for the season by factories in tlie association is 'greater than for last season, and all that- was graded up to al-out the middle of April is shipped, the cheese that- lias been stored standing where it is until the Dairy Control Board give the signal to release it. The butter factories of the association are, as usual, working right on—they have no off season. Prices in both commodities are relatively low, but according to the last cable advice the heartening fact protrudes that New Zealand butter is in London nearly up to the price of the Danish butter.

A suggestion that badges should be sold instead of poppies on Poppy Day so that the cost of the paper flowers could go towards the relief of distress received iittle supoprt at the annual meeting of the Wellington Returned Soldiers’ Association this week. The president, Colonel 11. E. Avery, said that the poppies Were made by ex-service men, and whatever the outlay it was all given back to returned soldiers. “It is the sentiment of the poppy that attracts the public,” said Mr R, W. Bothamley. Voices: “Hear, hear.”

The following paragraph which appeared in the “Otago Daily Times” was sent by that paper’s Balclutha- correspondent-: That it is an ill-wind that blows nobody good was never better exemplified than in the sudden prosperity that has come to Kaitangata owing to tlie strike in Southland mines. Kaitangata miners are now working three shifts, night and day, and the output of coal has increased enormously. In addition, a new agreement that will have a duration of 12 months has just been concluded between the company and the men. The coal being produced just now is exceptionally good, and a distinct trade revival is predicted for Kaitangata .

It. has come at last ! In response to persistent agitation London Underground lias just added a new car to each of its trains'labelled : “Ladies Only—Smoking,” and other lines are expected to follow suit. Who could have foreseen that the day would dawn when the adorable sex would clamour for smoke-cars of its own, and refuse to be happy till it got them? In days gone bv ladies would no more have thought of entering a smoke-car than they would have thought of playing two-up or skittles. They used to abhor tobacco-smoke. Now they adore it ! Well, smoking’s all right—so long as the tobacco’s till right. But sometimes it’s all wrong ! Quite often it contains a most injurious quantity of nicotine, and then it’s far better to cut it out. The safe way is to smoke New Zealand “toasted.” Better or purer or more delicious “weed” is not to be bad for money. And so safe—it’s toasted. Four brands only: Riverhead Gold. Navy Cut No. 3, Cavendish and Cut Plug No. 10.*

At McKay’s ! A one day sale, Friday. Doors open 9.30 a.m. Bargains. Sec windows.

Ladies’ Wool Jumper Suits in fine cashmere weaves, Fawn, Brown, Green, and Saxo, S.W. and W., worth 32/6 to 47/6. to clear 17/6 and 19/6. McKay’s One Day Sale, Friday. Doors open 9.30 a.in.*

'l ho Loyal Howard Lodge will hold its fort nightly dance to-morrow (Saturday) evening.

Part of the Agricultural Department's exhibit at the National Dairy Show is a demonstration bearing on the use of filtered ultra-violet light for distinguishing between types of ryegrass grown in New Zealand (states “I'lie Post”). The lecent discovery made in Germany thal the roots of seedlings of Italian ryegrass grown on white filter paper would bring about a condition in the paper which, under filtered ultraviolet liglit, would render it fluorescent, while seedlings of perennial ryegrass under identical conditions would not, is a matter of outstanding importance. The demonstration at tlie show leaves no doubt in the minds of farmers of the value of this discovery.

The shilling appeal made by the Smith Family to-day to augment the fund to relieve distress met with a ready response.

Remarkable growth has been shown by a kauri tree in Pukekura Park, New Plymouth (says the “News’"). When the tree was planted in August, 1915, it was 13 inches high. When the superintendent (Mr T. Horton) measured it yesterday it was 39ft. lOin. high and 12J,in. in diameter. This should be an inspiration to people planting trees in North Taranaki to plant kauris, said Mr Horton, when mentioning the matter at a meeting of the park hoard. People had been afraid to plant them, thinking that they would not grow well, but the growth in Pukekura Park showed that they compared favourably with any of the coniferous trees introduced into New Zealand from abroad. Mr 11. V. hi. Griffiths said they had been taught at school that kauris would not grow outside the Auckland province. That information was evidently incorrect.

An absurdly small return for the sale of three hales of wool crutchings was revealed by a Wanganui farmer recently. He stated that he had only received gd a lb. for the wool and that his net profit from the transaction had been exactly 17s 4d. “Can you heat that?'’ lie asked disgustedly. “Yes,” replied a second farmer, who said that lie had sent six bales of the best crutcliings home to London to be sold. His “return” had been a debit of £l7.

“Sir George Fowlds has referred to the depression through which we are passing, hut we have passed through others,” said Professor T. A. Hunter, Vice-Chancellor of the University of New Zealand, in his address at the Massey College graduation ceremony this week. In the 19th century it had been thought that the British Empire had cone to an end, hut the end of the century w’as marked as a period of unparalleled application of new ideas to old problems. “We must keep our minds open to these new ideas and develop a sympathetic outlook,” lie continued. “If we do not pull through first then other countries will. New ideas are of importance in agricultural science and we have had a late start with a long leeway to make up, hut we shall make it up.” Professor Hunter urged the college to adopt a high standard of ideals in its research work, stressing the importance that they he not lost during the depression. “There are a great many tilings that this country can afford to lose before higher education. This college owes a great deal to Sir George Fowlds and I'hope lie will direct his efforts to continue the research work. It is important that when we come to the fanning community we shall have something to give them.”

Three of the five applications for packet licenses to carry liquor on river boats were granted to the Wanganui River Services, Ltd., at an adjourned meeting of the Wanganui Licensing Committee. After judgment had been delivered the committee adjourned until 27th June to inspect two other boats, for which application for license had been made. In an interesting-written judgment it was stated that the inspector for the district had objected to the granting of licenses firstly, on the grounds that the committee had no jurisdiction to grant licenses for that part of the journey of vessels outside its own district. A number of cases at law were quoted in support of the committee’s holding that it did have the right to grant packet licenses outside its own district, in that a packet license was ambulatory, or, rather, the locality or premises within which its operation was confined was ambulatory. It was pointed out that the Wanganui River did not at any part form part of a licensing district. The bed of the river and the river itself, as far as navigable, was vested in the Crown. On the second grounds of objection, that the vessel licensed by packet license to sell liquor while carrying passengers between two termini, was not licensed if its trading operations were confined on occasions to part only of such run, the committee held that the greater included the less, and vessels should not be precluded from selling liquor if the run w r as restricted to part only of the journey. Both grounds for objection failed. The ingenious way lie discovered of keeping tramps away from his house when lie lived in England was told by a New Plymouth resident at a meeting this week. As he was often away from home, his mother was nervous when the tramps began to call frequently. He fixed the matter by obtaining an old policeman’s helmet and placing it in a prominent position on a shelf near the back door. It was a comical sight, he added, to see some of the tramps march round into the back yard, catch a glimpse of the helmet and tiptoe silently away.

A member of a Philadelphia firm writing to a New Plymouth resident says: “Philadelphia has 900,000 wageearners, utterly dependent on wages or salaries for their living. Of these, at present 300,000 are entirely without employment or income ; 275,060 more are on short time and starvation wages; the balance of 350,000 are in fear and trembling that they will be cast into the ranks of the unemployed at any moment. The white wage-earner in the TJ.S.A. to-day is in a far worse predicament than the negro slave prior to 1861. ' At least the negro slave had work, food and shelter. The white wage-earner is sure of none of these. These are unhappy times.”

In the course of some reminiscences in the Wanganui “Herald,” ex-Inspoctor Sidells said: “During 1881 I was stationed at Port Ahuriri (Napier), and one day a number of whales were seen sporting themselves in the roadstead. Those who are familiar with the port know that there is a narrow entrance between the piers to the inner harbour, where small vessels lay. During the night 1 was doing my rounds, which took me along the breastwork, when I heard a great commotion. On 'going to investigate 1 found a small whale, about 30ft long, aground. The ebb tide had left it stranded close to where the old bridge stood. The steamer Kiwi was at the pier, and I roused the mate. He got a harpoon and rope, and between us we tied the whale to the wharf, and sold it next day for 115. 1 imagine that I am Ihe only policeman who ever arrested a whale. Whenever 1 have told this story to my comrades they have generally considered it a fishv yarn.”

Ladies’ Creme Woven Nightdresses, collars and long sleeves, W. and 0.5.) 12/6 for 7/6, at McKay’s One Day Sale, Friday.*

A general meeting of the unemployed will lie held in the Institute Hall, Hardy street, to-morrow (Saturday) at 7.30 n.ni. One Day Sale, Friday, at McKay’s! Doors oucn 9.30 a.in. Ladies’ Velour Cloth Coats, imitation fur trimmed, 19/6. *

.“It is no part of my duty to suggest to the people of New Zealand how they can get out of the difficult- position in which they find themselves today, but I would like to direct your attention to what has been done in Great Britain,” said Mr L. A. Paish, His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner, at a luncheon tendered to him in Wellington yesterday, on the eve of his departure for England, via- Ottawa (reports “The Rost”). “We had an unparalleled situation to face,” he said. “It was facial with promptitude, and most energetic measures were taken to bring the country hack to prosperity. Judging from what appears in the English Press, prosperity is gradually coming hack to Great Britain; and if the Ottawa Conference i-s successful, as I have no doubt, it will he, prosperity will he reflected hack to New Zealand.” The speaker pointed out that England took over twice as much produce from New Zealand as New Zealand took in manufactures from England. That position' should he rectified. The statement of the Prime Minister of New Zealand that “we should buy where we sell,” was not borne out by the remarks lie had just made. Mr Piash thought that it might be fairly expected that out of tlie Ottawa Conference some good would come. We should think more of the concessions we could make rather than of the concessions we wanted other people to give us. All must put their shoulders to the wheel in order to bring hack prosperity.

A patent clip for fastening securely the lids of tins and boxes of all sizes and kinds has been invented by a man in New Plymouth. It is one of those so amazingly simple improvements that one wonders why they had not been thought of long ago. By the use of the device it is possible to keep biscuit tins airtight, while it is possible to secure the lids of small boxes and cartons firmly enough to send them through the post without string or wrapping.