LOCAL AND GENERAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 10 March 1933, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

At to-day's meeting of the. Waimca County Council a resolution was passed asking the Local Government Loan Board to sanction a loan of £17,000 for the installation of a water supply at Stoke.

The council of the New Zealand Surf Life-Saving Association is taking steps to compile a register of all beaches in the Dominion which are suitable for surf bathing. _ The association has sent a questionnaire to all affiliated clubs. When the information is supplied, the controlling body will possess a useful guide for swimmers and holiday parties. The reports will cover all details regarding the length and condition of the beaches, while danger spots and safety portions will also be indicated.

“In spite of increased costs, the public must be supplied with goods of dependable quality at prices they are able to pay,” says the official organ of the New Zealand Federation of Drapers, Clothiers, and Boot Retailors in expressing dismay at the introduction of tho sales tax. The article adds: “It can be done if prices are fixed on a still lower profit basis. It seems that every retailer who hopes to hold out must adopt this only way—if he wishes to retain his business connection and carry on with any success.”

A story is going the. rounds of l'apakura and district about two tennis nets belonging to a church club (says the "Star"). On a recent Saturday the officials, on arrival at the courts, went, to prepare for tj}e match, hut the nets were missing. A hue and cry was setup, but the nets could not be found; the last that had boon seen of them was when they were in their proper position, stretched over the courts the night belore. After some trouble temporary nets wore secured, and the match with a neighbouring club proceeded. The secretary and an official later went to the local police station, where (hey laid a complaint. 'I lie police officer put the visitors through a cross-examination as to where the missing nets were kist seen, and he reproved the club for lettiing their nets stay out all night. Then lie set out in search, and found the missing nets under the church building, where they had been carefully hidden away by some of the church officials, who desired to give the tennis people a practical lesson in taking care of the church’s property. The winner of the painting in the handcrafts section of the liai Valley Show was Mrs G. Wcstley, of Ilira,

It is notified in the “N.Z. Gazette” that the land in Waimea road formerly known as the Cattle Market Reserve has been changed to a reserve for recreation purposes. Tho “Gazette notice is 1 lie outcome of representations made by the Citv Council.*

“It seems to me to be one of the best moves that have been made in this direction, and i hope that other institutions will do the same thing,” remarked Mr I. E. Newton, principal of the Wanganui College, at a meeting of the Wanganui Chamber of Commerce, when tho setting-up of a New Zealand Institute of Commerce was proposed (reports "The Chronicle”). Mr Hague Smith, secretary of the chamber, said that the idea was to abolish the system of examinations at present conducted by tlio Wanganui and Wellington Chambers and to substitute a Dominion examination which would be of assistance in training people for commercial positions. The project was favourable to the Wellington Chamber, which wished to hear the opinion of other chambers before proceeding to deal further with the matter. The meeting decided to support the proposal.

Selfishness ou the part of motorists and other road users is a common cause of accidents. One form of wheel selfishness, the action of slow-moving vehicles holding to the middle of the road and blocking overtaking traffic, is referred to in the latest issue of the official bulletin of the Auckland Automobile Association. “This offence,” says the bulletin, "is accentuated when the driver of the slower-moving car deliberately accelerates when overtaken, thus forcing the overtaking car to fall back. The practice is not clever, and is ungentlemanly and selfish. Moreover, it is a breach of the motor regulations. On the horn being sounded by an overtaking car, it is the duty of the driver of the overtaken vehicle to pull over os near as is practicable to the left-hand side of the road to permit the other car through. Speed must not be increased. This is a little point that motorists should watch, for it is one that will save the other fellow a lot of worry, and will make motoring much more pleasurable.”

The visit of the Main Highways Board’s electro-magnetic truck to Invercargill was productive of a great haul of metallic objects. As a result of travelling over approximately £0 miles of streets, 1131 b of nails and other puncture producing objects and rather more than that weight of flattened tins were gathered up. The harvest of nails is estimated to represent 25,009 potential punctures. That the sex of day-old chickens can be guaranteed in the case of certain breeding crosses was a statement which caused some surprise among the party of English schoolboys who visited the Canterbury Agricultural College, Lincoln (reports the "Times”). Dr. F. W. Hilgendorf, in chatting with the boys as they inspected the fowl runs, said that for some five years or so it was known that the pullets would be of a colour different from the cockerels, but it was only recently that the investigations had reached such a stage that this could be guaranteed as a commercial proposition.

“The Lang faction finds it necessary to devote a great deal of thought to ensuring the steadfastness of its adherents when they win Parliamentary honours (comments the Melbourne “Argus”). The latest device by which it is proposed to bind Lang Labour politicians to their pledges is that adopted by the South Australian branch of the party, which has decided that every selected candidate must deposit a promissory note for £IOO with the party ; the notes of unsuccessful candidates will be returned, but those of the more fortunate, ,if any,'who are elected, will be held. Whether or not the party is justified in its belief that if the actions of a member of Parliament are not Satisfactory it will by this means be able to make a monetary claim upon him, these'sad shifts to which it is put to sustain the allegiance of its following offer an eloquent commentary upon the degradation of its ideals. T inie was when Labour’s advocates needed nothing to nourish their loyalty save confidence in their cause; but it. is a poor cause that requires a bond of its champions, lest they lapse from their constancy. Even tlie dread prospect of expulsion seems to have been robbed of its horrors when lip service is enforced by the threat ‘ Obey—or pay.’ ”

While the Monowai was engaged upon a pleasure cruise ill the Marlborough Sounds and was anchored off Ngakuta in tho Grove Arm of Queen Charlotte Sound on Wednesday, some 60 of the passengers took the opportunity of visiting Picton, while others made launch trips in various other directions. A great treat was given a party of lucky Picton school children, who were taken to visit the vessel during the afternoon (reports the "Express”). The youngsters were shown over the ship and afterwards were entertained at tea in the streamer-decorated dining saloon of the ship. What with ice-creams, paper hats and bonbons the children had a wonderful time, and no doubt they are hoping that there will be many more such cruises, with generous invitations to the youthful members of the port’s population.

Messrs C. G. Wilson and A. F. Wiren, two of the best-known of Wellington’s cricket stalwarts, wrote as follows in yesterday’s “Dominion” : The Herbert McGirr Benefit Fund will be closed shortly, and as trustees of the fund we beg to make a final appeal to the cricketers and sportsmen of Wellington for their support. McGirr is a product of Wellington cricket, having been bom in the city, learned his cricket here, and played representative cricket for over 21 years. During his career as a representative Wellington cricket reached its highest standard and fared well, not only against the major associations of the Dominion, but also against overseas teams, and to this success McGirr by his fine all-round play has contributed largely. As a batsman, McGirr’s line free style made him a favourite, and as a medium-pace bowler lie Generally took wickets. Douglas Hay, manager of the New Zealand 1926 team, interviewed in England, said: “No crack bowler or crumbling wicket ever deprived Mac of the faith that was in him.” Benefits to deserving cricketers —and McGirr is one —have been in vogue for many years, both in England and Australia, and are not unknown in Wellington. The M.C.C. and “Daily Telegraph” fund brought a sum of £7377 to the famous O'. Grace, and in Australia Victor Trumper’s fund reached £3OOO. Next season, too. a match is to be played in Sydney for Collins, Kelleway, and Andrews, and in Melbourne for Ironmonger and Blackie. We appeal therefore with every confidence to the sporting public—to whom McGirr has given many fine displays with both hat and ball —to help along the fund. Subscriptions may be banded to any member of the association with official lists or to ourselves. The account will in due course be audited and the result made public. Only 5/6 for jaunty corded velvet caps, ideal ior sports wear. In smart two-tone effects at McKay’s* Woven Wool Frocks featuring the twotone top and pinafore strapping. From 35/- at McKays.* Smart diagonal Tweed Skills in wellcut good styles, from 12/6 at McKay’s.* The new autumn goods are charming. McKay’s showroom display is open to all interested. When will you call?*

Considerable delay in the transmit siou and distribution of cable news from Wellington was caused in Christchurch on Wednesday night by the effect of a light fall of rain in the early evening, and as a result it was necessary to establish a circuit through Blenheim, Nelson, and Grevinouth to enable tin* cables to come 'through (reports the “Press”). The operation was outstanding in that it is the first time that it lias been done with the particular apparatus, the Murray Duplex telegraphic transmission apparatus, and that it w r as successfully carried out in a very short time. Two lines on which the cables are transmitted run direct from Wellington side by side, and in dry weather dust cobwebs, string and straw collect on the lines and the fittings. When there is a light fall of rain these substances act as conductors and the current leaks across from one line to the other. The messages arc received from each line separately and when the current leaks the messages become mixed and it- is then necessary to stop operating on one of the lines. On Wednesday night there was such a large amount on the wires that one line could not cope with the rush and another circuit had to be made. A delay of about an hour was caused, but. by working with an increased staff things were getting back to normal by 10 p.m. With the continuation of the rain the conducting materials on the 1 lines are washed olt and the line can then be operated (Jgain. Trouble of this nature is experienced only about twice a year on the average, and the delay caused this, week was the worst for a considerable time.

During last week there were 9902 tons of freight hauled through the Otira tunnel, as compared with 9482 tons tor the corresponding period last year and 9299 tons in 1931.

Twelve pages of the last “N.Z. Gazette” are taken up with the regulations under the Motor Vehicles Act,

A pessimistic person has been writing to a London paper to complain that things have changed for the worse since he was young. He growls that- there are no novels worth reading now, no plays worth seeing, no liquor worth drinking, and no tobacco worth smoking . The old are hard to please. No tobacco worth smoking, eh? Well, New Zealanders, at any rate, tell another story ! They are proud of the Dominion tobacco, and often say its equal is not to be found —a verdict repeatedly endorsed by visiting experts. “The flavour is exquisite,” said one, “and the bouquet appeals to all judges of good tobacco. The secret of its excellence lies largely in its comparative freedom from the poisonous nicotine. It is roasted or toasted. No other tobacco is. There are four brands: Riverhead Gold, Navy Cut No. 3, Cavendish, and Cut Plug No. 10. Our pessimistic friend should certainly sample it. If he does lie will assuredly change his tune, and admit that there is still tobacco to be had “worth smoking.”*

The Loyal Howard Lodge will hold its fortnightly dance to-morrow (Saturday) evening.