LOCAL AND GENERAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 15 August 1932, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

After a long spell of dry weather — so dry that the position was becoming serious in districts where tanks were relied on for water—the weather broke late yesterday afternoon and during the night 1.06 inches of rain fell, bringing the fall for the month to 1.28 and for the year to 20.36. For the last two months hard frosts have been experienced with bright sunny days. Up to yesterday morning 32 consecutive frosts had been recorded.

Some idea of the severity of the cold experienced in Ecefton lately can be gauged by the fact that a fairly large number of eels, large and small, may be seen frozen stiff on the ice on a pond of water near the railway bridge, at the western end of Reefton (says the lnangahua “Times”). This is, it is stated to be, the first time such an occurrence has been noted in the district. Some one with a knowledge of eels, states these will becom* active again when the cold decreases, but we are quite certain that a great number will not, us certain small boys have had quite a harvest of cels lately from this ponfl.

Louisson’s Ltd., Spring Opening Exhibition commences to-morrow (Tuesday).*

Tho late Edgar Wallace—a glutton for work! —wrote all night, snatching—sometimes—a few hours’ sleep during the day. An inveterate smoker, he was wont to say his pipe “helped him to concentrate when on the job,” and was of invaluable assistance to him when in the throes of composition. Apropos of that the value of tobacco as an aid to effort seems to he recognised by brainworkers nowadays as it never was before. But to geL the best out of tobacco it must be pure and as free as it can possibly he from the nerve-destroying nicotine. Unfortunately such brands are not so common as they should be. However, that need not worry New Zealand smokers, because our toasted New Zealand tobaccos are probably the purest in tho world. Their nicotine content is negligible because they are toasted. That’s why they can bo smoked even to excess, with impunity. And how delicious they are ! There are only four brands: Biverhcad Gold, Navy Cut No. 3, Cavendish and Cut Plug No. 10.*

Charged that on 15th July, 1932, at Nelson, with intent to defraud, by falsely representing that he was an employee of Messrs Bryan Bros., of Rai Falls, and that he had wages due to him from that firm, he did obtain from Frederick William Huggins, goods and money to the value of £5, Alfred Sidney Kerr, aired 28, appeared at the Magistrate’s Court at Greymouth before Mr J Kyle, J.F. (reports the “Grey Argus”), Detective 11. C. Murcli, in asking for a remand until Monday, said that the accused was arrested only the previous day, and that further charges would later be preferred against him. Tho remand was granted.

“We have seen some wonderful scenery in other parts of the world, but noth' ing has surpassed the 100-mile trip from Christchurch to Greymouth. It delghted us, and we would have been very sorry had we missed it”: Mr R. F. Anderton, financial manager of the English Rugbv League team, when speaking at the civic reception at Christchurch.

The importation of the chukhor, or Indian partridge, was discussed at last week’s meeting of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society. The chairman, Mr F. E. McKenzie, said the chukhor would not make an all-round game bird, as it would thrive only in certain districts. Mr J. E. Elliott said that as soon as they Were liberated the birds would make straight for tho snowline, as they were accustomed in in India. “I, for one will not follow them,” he added, amid laughter

There has been a marked improvement fn tho demand for farms during recent months, and no fewer than five farms at Mauku, near Pukekohe, have changed hands at prices which the vendors consider very satisfactory (says the “Star”). The land in most cases is first class, and is suitable for both dairying and cropping.

“Few people realise that the 470 prisoners in Mount Eden gaol and at Rangitoto represent one-third of the prison population of the Dominion,” said the honorary secretary of the Discharged Prisoners’ Aid Society, the Rev. G. E. Morrison, at Auckland last week. Since October last year the society had spent £650 giving assistance to 3400 former prisoners, their wives or dependants.

A shipment of about 500 cases of butter for Shanghai, despatched from Auckland by the Royal Mail liner Niagara on 26th July, will reach its destination 21 days after it left Auckland. The butter was unloaded at Honolulu and was immediately transferred to the CanadianPacific liner Empress of Japan, which was awaiting to sail for Shanghai, where she will arrive to-morrow. The previous best time for the carriage of butter between the two ports was 27 days.

It is understood that railway orders for coal have been reduced by approximately half, for the present (states the “Grey Star”). In this connection it is assumed that the railway reserve stocks have now reached their full capacity, and the outlook is not promising for miners ’getting in full shifts during the next week or two. The larger mines, it is stated, have accumulated slack to such an extent as to stop production. It is further stated that a number of the co-operative mines are having even greater difficulty with their slack, and in many • cases, have had to resort to dumping, to enable them to continue operations, to meet orders for screened coal.

“It is an eye-opener how things have changed in Sydney in recent months,” declared Air I. J. Goldstine, Mayor of One. Tree Hill, in replying to a welcome extended to him by the council on his return from Australia. “Conditions have undergone a marvellous change. In Sydney they have definitely turned the corner; they are turning it no longer. There is now an entirely different tone.”

“Clothes seem to be much less expensive in Australia than they are in New Zealand,” said Mr E. R G. Steere, the vice-captain of the All Black Rugby team which recently visited Australia, speaking at the Napier Rotary Club. “Shopkeepers will bring their prices down by 25 per cent, to get a buyer. You can buy a good suit of clothes for £3 3s. Some of the shopkeepers will even offer you a wristlet watch as an inducement to buy.”

Bringing what is virtually the first direct cargo from Eastern Canadian ports since the ratification of the trade agreement between Canada and New Zealand on 24th May, the Canadian Government steamer Canadian Conqueror arrived at Auckland from Montreal last week. Her presence on the New Zealand coast provides definite signs of improved trade relations between the countries (states the “Herald”). The Canadian Conqueror was a full ship when she arrived, carrying about 8000 tons of Canadian merchandise for Australia and New Zealand. About half of this quantity is for New Zealand ports, but when the vessel leaves for Australia to complete discharge, she will still be a full ship. She will take as much New Zealand merchandise to Canada as she brought Canadian merchandise to New Zealand. The increased amount of cargo brought by the Canadian Conqueror is indicative of tho manner in which merchants in both Dominions have welcomed the new agreement. A further encouraging sign is contained in the fact that the next Canadian Government steamer to visit Now Zealand, the Canadian Cruiser, will load solely in the Dominion for her return trip. She will bring a considerable quantity of general merchandise from Eastern Canadian ports and in addition will complete her cargo by loading sulphur at Galveston, Texas. She will discharge and load jn New Zealand and will return to Canada without calling at Australian ports. Some Christchurch boys make good pocket money when the zoological department of Canterbury College requires a supply of frogs. But the demands for scientific specimens evidently attract the attention of men in other countries, for when tho Zoology School of the Melbourne University recently called for 1400 cockroaches, one man brought in a “bag” of 800, almost immediately, which, at the rate offered, a halfpenny a “head,” gave him a payment of £1 13s 4d. The other 600 came in from various sources shortly afterwards, when the market closed down. The cockroaches sacrificed on the altar of scientific knowledge were carefully preserved, and students have now a sufficient supply to enable dissection to be carried on for the next two years.

The following comment relating io Hawkes Bay produce in Home markets is contained in a letter from Glasgow: “Things are now much cheaper than [irewar, that is, clothes, boots, shoes and foodstuffs; in fact, nearly everything except rents, rates and taxes. ‘We have

a lot of New Zealand lamb selling in the butchers’ shops nowadays, and as Scotch is out of the question at 2s per pound, your lamb has a. good run. The caracascs have tickets on them and some actually show that it comes from near where you must be. Ilawkes Bay. New Zealand butter and cheese are also in good demand, being much cheaper than the Home product. We are beginning to wonder what we should do without New Zealand.

Louissons Ltd., Spring Opening Exhibition commences to-morrow (Tuesday).* Doll Dressing Competition! Voting finishes to-morrow at 5.30 run. McKay's.* Timely warning is given by advertisement that Monday next the 22nd instant is tile last day upon which ratepayers- will be able to obtain discount o:i their rates.

School hours at Nelson College were discussed a the Agricultural and Pastoral Association’s meeting on. Saturday night. Mr Rogers moved that a letter be forwarded to the College governors asking that the school bo opened all day on Wednesdays and closed on Saturdays instead of being opened half a day on Wednesdays and Saturdays as at present. After considerable discussion the motion was lost on the casting vote of the chairman.

During the past twelve months over 1200 unemployed single men have been sent from Wellington to the fourteen country camps in the Wellington and Nelson provinces, and only about 10 per cent, have declined to stay. With the provision of more recreation and generally improved conditions, tile men are settling down very well to camp life. It is lioped to send six men to the Otunui camp, and ten to the Owhaugo camp on Wednesday next. Twenty men are required to go to the Motupiko forestery camp, near Nelson, to-morrow evening; ten to the Public Works camp at Riwaka on Friday; and twelve to the Hope Saddle Public Works camp, also on Friday.

Special reference to land values was made by Mr W. J. Poison, M.P., during an address to the Midhirst branch of the Farmers’ Union last week, when he stressed the danger, that might be attendant upon drastic deflation of land values (reports the “News”). “The clamour has been raised that land values are too high and that we will not succeed in New Zealand until we reduce those values,” Mr Poison said. He characterised the cry .as sheer nonsense and said if would be just as reasonable to say that New Zealand’s troubles had arisen because of the enormous fall in values. Development in New Zealand had been largely due to land values, and depressed values were just as unfair as boom ones. He showed by a chart divided into three divisions for first, second and third-class land what would happen to second and third-class lands if the values of New Zealand lands continued to fall. Under such conditions half the country would 'go back to wilderness. To reduce land values would be to arrest progress, stop development and ruin the community. The country had already fallen too far. Mr Poison’s experience had been that where land values were highest' the nations were most prosperous. Sweden had less unemployment tha'n any other country in the world and the highest land values. Mr Poison supported his contention with a chart used by the Hon. A. Hamilton with whom Mr Poison was associated at a meeting at Dannevirke last week. The chart showed that as the value of firstclass land fell so did that of second-class land fall and disappear from the production field, while third-class land went completely off the picture.

Deserved or undeserved the Hon. W. H. Mclntyre, M.L.0., gained a new title at the hands of a witness in the Millerton Court last week, when he was termed “the uncrowned king of the Buller.” In addition to the allocations in the Macarthy Trust, at the meeting, to-day the Board of Governors dealt with the final amount —£730 —available from the Henry Wilshaw Trust. The Board authorised that the sum be devoted exclusively to the relief of distress, and accordingly the following grants were authorised as recommended by the advisory committee: The Mayor’s Fund, Wellington, £200; Salvation Army, £150; Home for Incurables, £75; St. Vincent de Paul Society, £125; Wellington City Mission, £IBO. These amounts are to be applied solely for the relief of distress in the provincial district of Wellington.

At to-day’s meeting of the Nelson Education Board Mr E. J. Scantlebury said in the past copies of School Journals were available to members of the board, and he asked why the practice had been discontinued. The secretary made inquiries and stated that on account of economy measures the Department supplied one copy only to each board now.

Work at the Bell Block Aerodrome in preparation for the arrival from Sydney in September of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, ill the monoplane Southern Cross, is progressing satisfactorily. Twenty-five men have been toiling away with pick, shovel, and barrow, and already great transformations have taken place, says the “Taranaki Herald.” Tons on tons of spoil have been removed from hillocks to fill up valleys so that, when the famous airman arrives, bis machine will have a minimum runway of 900 yards in all directions. The sum of £9OO has been, authorised by the Unemployment Board to carry out "the work. Hills are being razed and hollows filled so that the grade at the aerodrome, sloping generally in an easterly direction, will be from one in fifty to one in seventy. Whan certain fences are removed a maximum' runway of 1000 yards will be provided with the minimum of 900 in all directions. As the men level up the ground they turf and place black soil on the grass to encourage its growth. By this means and by the use of a roller in certain places a solid landing ground will be provided to take the great weight of the giant Southern Cross. As yet, of course, the work is not half completed but, from the progress made, it is quite certain that, when the time comes, all will be in readiness for the visit of the airman.

Mr Charles P. Harris, of 88 Valley, Wakefield, was successful with an entry of clover seed ,at the Manavvatu Show, gaining first prize. Last season was not a good one for cow grass seed, but Mr Harris secured 221,- bags of seed from 9 acres.

On Saturday evening there was a full house in the Girls’ College gymnasium when the College students presented three short plays “The Princess and the Woodcutter” (A. A. Milne), “The Stoker” (H. Brighouse), and “The Tents o c the Arabs” (Lord. Dunsany), thus ending a successful two-night season, the funds from which were for the College Jubilee Committee. The plays were exceedingly well clone, the girls taking part displaying much talent. The appropriate scenery, for which Miss M. Stewart was responsible, was most effective: .Miss King, who produced the plays was handed several bouquets at the end of the performance and cheers were given for her by the performers. The directors of the Bank of New Zealand have allocated the sum of £4OOO '->!• (lie relief of women and children in distress in the four chief centres in the Dominion. The amount will be disbursed through channels or organisations which the bank is satisfied are dealing with this particular phase of relief work. Tho system of through booking by rail and sea between the North and (mill Island was well taken advantage of during the past- twelve months, and is described by the General Manager of Railways (Mr P. G. Ronssell) as a bright spot in the railway working year. The traffic amounted to 20,100 tons, the bulk of which was in comparatively small lots, representing many thousands of consignments. The fact that this is an increase of 3600 tons for the year, in spite of the depression, is regarded as encouraging. “The far-ranging effects of even this one branch of railwav enterprise,” said Mr Roussell, “are seen in the fact that during the year the Department paid out of through-booking revenue £28,300 in sea freights, £1630 in cartage, and £4500 in wharfage, covering practically every port in the Dominion.” Ladies’ Leatherette Raincoats, smart tweed effects, 25/6 to 4 guineas. High grade Leather Coats £6 10s. McKay’s.*