LOCAL AND GENERAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 13 February 1933, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The West Coast cricket team which played Nelson for the Hawke Cup on Friday and Saturday, returned to Greymouth yesterday. Members of the visiting team had a pleasant stay in the city.

At the meeting of the Nelson Education Board to-day it was pointed out that the average attendance in the board’s district during 1932 was 94.1 per cent. The chairman (the Hon. W. H Mclntyre) said that the board should be proud of such a high average attendance, especially considering the number of country schools and the long distances children had to go to school, and also considering that the board’s area included part of the West Coast where bad weather conditions were experienced.

While conversing with shootists at the Nelson District Rifle Association’s championship meeting at Motueka- on Saturday, Mr Peterson, an old rifleman, mentioned tlie fact that about 40 years ago as a hoy in Nelson lie remembered going to the old mudflat range where the ringing bell bullseye was in use and all the riflemen used the snider type of rifle. However, he remarked, one shootist named Hunter arrived with a new rifle, the Martini Henry, and much interest was displayed in it by all present. This fact was mentioned to Mr XL Hunter, of Nelson, who was on the Motueka range, and it was determined that he was the Mr Hunter who first used tlie Martini-Henry on the Nelson range, on that day about 40 years ago. Mr Hunter had purchased the rifle for use at the 1891 Dunedin rifle meeting, and on the day Mr Peterson visited the Nelson range Mr Hunter produced the rifle for the first time on the local x-ange.

The discovery of a rich patch of gold in a locality near Thames, which has not been revealed, has been reported, and on Thursday 161 oz of melted bullion, recovered from lcwt of stone, was deposited in the Bank of New Zealand (states the Thames correspondent of the “N.Z. Herald”). It has not been assayed, but the director of the Thames School of Mines, Mr 11. Crawford, estimates it to be worth over £6OO. The ore was crushed and treated at the battery at tlie School of Mines, and represents only part of the find, which is the outcome of six weeks’ work during December and January by a narty of prospectors who started operations under tlie No. 5 scheme. Owing to the breakdown in the water-race the treatment plant at the School of Mines has been disorganised. Extra time and work have been spent on the tail-end of the ore, while there is still a good deal of highlypayable dirt from the same parcel to be treated. Mr J. W. Smith, mining supervisor, stated that some other parties were meeting with very encouraging success. A find in one locality near Thames showed country rock which was decomposing rapidly, but when panned off it gave extremely rich prospects. Mr Smith states that prospectors are coming into the held with little or no experience, and he is finding it difficult tc place this type of man. At least one of a party must have experience either in prospecting or gold mining. Three men of good physique arrived at Thames on Thursday, having walked from Napier.

. A comprehensive estimate of the damage resulting from the recent floods in portions of Marlborough County was submitted to the Council meeting last week by the County Engineer (Mr 0. Hundlebv) (reports the 'Express”). His figures showed that, repairs to roads sind bridges would run into £ISOO or £2OOO. 'The most serious damage was the loss of the Maungatnpu Bridge, which had six feet of water over it and was finally washed clean out of the gorge, leaving only portions of the piers still at the site. Much of the Cipher in the structure was cast ashore below the site of the bridge, and Mr Hundlebv reported that it could be used again. By employing the old timber and some new material the bridge could be restored at a cost of £4lO, but if tlie bridge was to be made safe from future floods it would need to be raised bv Bft., and in that event the cost would be £IOOO. It was mentioned that the bridge served four settlers, of whom two were Wainiea County ratepayers. The Council decided to seek a Government subsidy for this this and other Hood restoration work. It was remarked that just before the flood occurred one of t]i e AYaimea ratepayers took a lorry across the bridge and it was now marooned until the bridge was rebuilt or a temporary ford constructed. Instructions were given that a temporary ford should be put in.

At to day’s meeting of the Nelson Education Board a, School Committee letter mentioned the fact that its grant had been cut down. It was pointed out that this was not so, all school committee grants being the same as they had been in the past. The school concerned had dropped a grade, which explained the reduced grant.

A feat ure of the hot summer at the Auckland beaches this year has been the abbreviation of dressing for both bathing and lounging (says the ' “Star”). Fashion and public opinion appear to have agreed for once in putting the old neck-to-knee bathing costume very much in the minority. Variety has been achieved in many ingenious fashions, but even on the most crowded beaches surprisingly few instances have been observed in which shock-modest-" could be called in question by mock-modesty. In the circumstances, the practice indulged in bv many youths, after their swim, of parading with long or short trousers as their only clothing has not been objected to. But this practice at the Lake Domain at Hamilton has been frowned ni by the Hamilton Domain Board, which has instructed its caretaker to insist on a covering of the upper body being added to the trousers by young fellows patronising the lake environs.

There is a resident of New Plymouth who owns a black spaniel, and this story concerning it is vouched for (says the “Taranaki Herald”). The master is very proud of his dog and of the many tricks which it can do. One of its best and perhaps the most useful is the bringing in of firewood from the shed in the mornings when the fire is being lighted. On a recent morning the dog was rather reluctant about going to the wood shed, but it was despatched by its master with the customary command. After an unusually long time there was a scraping on the verandah and the master proceeded to investigate. He found the dog laboriously dragging in by its handle the axe. There was no wood cut.

A new tonnage record for the port of New Plymouth was created on Friday afternoon (states the “News”). The gross tonnage of the vessels then in port reached 35,030 tons, eclipsing the previous record of 31,167 tons, established in January, 1928, by 3863 tons. As Captain O/F. Mclntyre, harbourmaster at New Plymouth, asked -when confirming the establishment of the tonnage record: “How long will it last?” The total of 137,675 tons assured for the first two months of the year compared with the actual 102,531 tons of the. similar period last year seems an increase almost too good to be true in such times as these.

A woman Justice of the Peace presided in the Auckland Police Court on Thursday for the first time during the hearing of an indictable charge (states the “N.Z. Herald”). The Justice was Mrs Florence Mcßride, of Mount Albert, who was associated on the Bench with Mr V. A. Coyle, J.P. Since her appointment to the position, Mrs McBride has attended Police Court proceedings regularly, and, on occasions, has given assistance in dealing with the evidence of women and girl witnesses. Women Justices have presided on the Bench elsewhere in New Zealand on previous occasions, and also in Auckland in connection with the -Children’s Court, but not with the regular Court work. A Court official said on Thursday that the services of women on the Bench, especially in certain cases, could be of the 1 greatest assistance.

A discussion took place at a recent meeting of the Canterbury Progress League’s executive regarding the refusal of Government Departments to recognise any liability for payment of outstanding rates on properties mortgaged to the Crown (says the “Press”). It was stated by several representatives of local bodies that the attitude of State lending Departments in declining to accept any liability in the matter was placing local bodies in a very unenviable position, and that unless something was done to relieve the tension the position would become progressively . worse. To obtain first-hand evidence of the existing state of affairs in each county and borough in Canterbury, and for the purpose of deciding what action should be taken to meet the position, it has been resolved to call a conference of all interested local bodies, and this conference will be held on Ist March.

“This question has been engaging the attention of this and many other local bodies for some time,” said Mr I. J. Goldstine, Mayor of One Tree Hill, when a letter in connection, with the exemption from rates of.property owned by the Government was received from the London County Council at last week's meeting (reports the “N.Z. Herald”). The letter stated that property in the occupation of the Government had never been considered to be liable to rates owing primarily to the fact that no mention of the Crown was made in the Poor Relief Act, 1601 known as the Statute of Elizabeth. At conferences convened by the London County Council every five years the following resolution was passed: —“That in the opinion of this conference, Government property should be made rateable and valued for that purpose on the same basis and in the same manner as other property.” “I see no reason why this should not be an example to the New Zealand Government,” said the Mayor. It was decided that a copy of the letter be sent to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Internal Affairs.

The state of the water drawn from Lake Pupuke for the 22,000 residents of the four marine boroughs—Devonport, Takapuna, Northcote and Birkenhead—is causing much concern. An objection able fishy odour, and taste has become very pronounced during the last week. The trouble is attributed primarily to the decomposition of weeds and small fresh-water shellfish in Lake Pupuke during the recent dry weather. The position is regarded as a most serious one, and is engaging the attention of the North Shore Water Board, Devonport Borough Council, and the Health Department.

“It is strange that in cases like this it is impossible to get a garage proprietor to give expert evidence against another garage proprietor,” said Mr C. S. Thomas, when appearing in the Magistrate’s Court at Christchurch in a defended civil case (reports the “Press”). His experience' in such cases went back over a considerable number of years, he said, and the position had always been the same. It was, to his mind, scandalous. A witness, Mr K. E. England, a past president of the Christchurch Garage Proprietors’ Association, when cross-examined by Mr Thomas, said that the Association had never discussed the. matter, but members tried not to give evidence against each other for the reasons that it might lose them business, besides which to appear in Court often meant a loss of time. Air Thomas complained to Mr 11. A. Young, Stipendiary Magistrate, who was on the bench, that the custom rendered -it difficult for counsel acting for parties against garage proprietors to obtain the best evidence.

The Nelson Citizens’ Silver Band has offered its services to march the Regimental Band down to Trafalgar Park on Wednesday evening for that band’s marching quickstep inspection.

Additional subscriptions to the fund being raised to assist to keep Station 2ZR on the air are: W. Sharpe, £1 Is, Mrs M. Simpson (Motueka) £l, II C Kerr Harley £l, W. Gould £l.

At to-dav’- meeting of the Nelson Education Board the chairman (the Hon. W. H. Mclntyre) complimented the board’s staff on having the balance-sheet for 1932 completed and in the hands of the Minister of Education. “I would not mind making a wager that no board in New Zealand has its balance-sheet in the hands of the Minister earlier,” he said, “and it says much for the efficiency of our staff.” Other members added their congratulations to the staff.

There was less poverty apparent in New Zealand than any other country that he had passed through, including Britain, remarked Mr J. Ellis, a retired English railway superintendent who is touring'New Zealand, in a conversation with a representative of the “Taranaki News.” All the people here seemed well dressed, and there was no evidence of the people being very badlv off. In America he could hardly walk half a dozen yards without someone begging from him, but in New Zealand he had never been approached by anyone for assistance.

An unusual type of notice, pasted up on the window of a new sports shop in Lower Stuart street near the Moray place intersection is attracting the attention of passers-by (states the Dunedin “Star”). It appears that some months ago the proprietor was fined in the Police Court for delivering a firearm without a permit. He refused to pay the fine, and. in accordance with the law, has just been sent to prison as the alternative. The following notice was pasted to the window: “These premises will be closed during His Majesty’s pleasure, while I am engaged serving a term of imprisonment for non-payment of a fine inflicted on me for a breach of an unjust and ill-considered clause of the Arms Act. lam hopeful that the period of detention will not be a ‘ Kathleen Mavourneen,’ as no term was stated as the alternative to the fine imposed, but I trust that I will be released within a few days, when the business will be re-opened.”

The Picton Watersiders’ Union at a: stopwork meeting unanimously carried a resolution demanding an increase in wage rates equal to the increase in the cost of living on the exchange rate. — Press Association.

On Tuesday evening the Dean of Nelson will give two lecturettes in the Diocesan Library at 7.30. The lecturettes are entitled (1) “Some Gems from the Poets,” and (2) “Legal Wit and Humour.” During the interval between the lecturettes there will be several musical items.

Importers are notified of a somewhat startling increase in the price of practically all classes of goods that come to New Zealand from Japan (states the “Star”). A circular just received by a Dunedin firm asks for confirmation of its orders at the higher rate, “as it is impossible to contract for delivery at the prices quoted previously.” Examples of the increase are enumerated —glassware 30 per cent., dinnerware 55 per cent., tricycles 48 per cent., porcelain and earthenware 45 per cent., bicycle parts 56 per cent., cotton goods up to 108 per cent. Explanations are appended. “Up to December, 1931, prior to Japan going off the gold standard, its yen, nominally worth 2s Id, rose to 3s Id, and New Zealand buyers operated freely. In December, 1931, Japan went off the gold standard, and its currency depreciated until it reached the present level of Is 3d. If an average of 50 per cent, increase be assessed over the whole of an order it- will represent an. increase in the yen value of Is 10£d. which is still below its par value.” The writers go on to give other reasons for the advance. There has been an enormous influx of orders, clearing the market of stocks, and with the yen so low the replacement costs are abnormal. Secondly, Japan has to buy most of her raw material from other countries in depreciated currency. Thirdly, England and America have been placing enormous orders;

The annual returns of the year Avere submitted to to-day’s meeting of the Nelson Education Board, shoAving that the expenditure for the year 1932 Avas over £30,000 less than in 1931. The reduction Avas chiefly attributed to the almost negligible expenditure on new buildings on Avhich £122,800 Avas spent in 1931, and only £213 last year. In addition, the reduction in salaries accdunted for a fair. amount.

Showroom bargains at McKay’s sale! Ladies’ silk and avool jumpers, sleeveless and short sleeves, formerlydl/ll to 29/6. iioav 5/11 to 19/6.*

“Punch’s” famous “advice to those about to marry” Avas “Don’t.” R. L. Stevenson’s advice to ladies contemplating matrimony Avas “never marry a non-smoker.” Charles Reade, the novelist, Avho flourished before cocktails, night-clubs, votes for Avomen and the intellectual superiority of the “softer sex” Avere invented counselled ladies to encourage their husbands and fiances to smoke all they Avanted to. Daring advice at a time Avlieii women hadn’t learned to smoke and Hated—or said they hated—tobacco. Ah, well, the AA r orld grows Aviser everyday ! And it is becoming generally recognised that, given the riglit- baccy, smoking, so far from proving harmful, is often positively beneficial. Unfortunately, however, the rigli baccy is not so common as it should be—save in New Zealand. There are four brands: Navy Cut No. 3, Cavendish, Riverhead Gold, and Cut Plug No. 10. Not one of them contains any nicotine worth mentioning; all are famous for their splendid quality. They are toasted ! —and quite harmless. They don’t affect heart or throat and arc as pure as they are delicious.*

Clearance bargains in ready to wear hats at McKay’s sale, formerly 10/6 to 25/-, clearing at 2/6.* Floral. Rayon Frocks, sleeveless and short sleeves, formerly 14/6, noAV 7/6 at McKay’s Sensational Sale.*