LOCAL AND GENERAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 29 March 1934, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

“The Mail” will not he published to-morrow (Good Friday). It will appear as usual on Saturday and Easter Mondav.

A number of Nelson taxi drivers signed a letter which came before the City Council last evening, requesting the Council to frame a by-law under tile new provisions of the Municipal Corporations Act 1933, governing the. minimum and maximum fares and other matters relating to taxis. The letter was referred to a committee already set up to deal with a matter concerning the taxis, and information is to he gained from other local bodies at present framing by-laws on the lines suggested in the letter.

The walnut harvest at Akaroa lias begun and the sound of the threshing of the trees cun he heard in all parts of the district. The crop this year is good, with clean nuts and only a small percentage of bad ones. The disease prevalent some years ago has almost disappeared. It is estimated that the yield will equal those of former years, when upwards of 1000 sacks were shipped away. New Zealand, as a country offering unlimited opportunities for sport to world tourists, has made a marked impression on All* R. O. Herman, u visitor from Ulster, Ireland, 1 who, with Mrs Hermoii, lias arrived in Christchurch from Blenheim. He has ju.-.l left Lord Bledisloe’s fishing party at Taylor’s camp, Lake Taupo, and now hopes to indulge his favourite pastime at Pembroke for a fortnight. “1 can say definitely that tile Dominion is the finest sporting country T have ever been to. The facilities are excellent and the shooting and fishing areas are prolific and all easily accessible,” lie said in a brief interview with a representative of “The Press." He added that the hospitality and readiness to assist tourists was striking, and that “lie would love to live here.” On returning from Pembroke Mr and -Mrs Herniou will go to Government House, Auckland, for a week, and then ..Mrs Hermon will leave for Australia, where she will he the guest of the Governor of New South Wales, Sir Philip Game and Lady Game. During her absence Mr Hermon will remain in New Zealand for fishing, and later the shooting season, and then on Mrs Hermon’s return to New Zealand they will leave for America.

After a discussion in committee on insurances last night, the City Council adopted the following motion on resuming in open council. That the whole of the Council's fire and comprehensive insurances he given to the State Office on condition that they he equally distributed by that office among the companies operating in New Zealand, and that failing the -State Office agreeing, other companies he approached with tin same conditions. v

The, greatest piece of heart timber in the world, according to extensive inquiries, is owned by an Aucklander. It has been stowed in his workshop for years, hut has lost none of its interest lor all that. Tt would he impossible to mill siich a slab of lumber on pvesentdaytmaeiiiiies (states the “Star”). Heart kauri is beautiful, wood at any time, hut the piece owiied by Mr G. F. Saunders, of Lincoln street, Ponsonby, is better than any other cut in existence. 11 is clearly grained, although it has only been crOsS-Sanded. It it were polished and finished it would be still more attractive. Tts value, apart from the fact that another such cut will probably never again he made, is in its age and its size. The huge piece is 13ft lOin long, 71't 4-in wide and 2-Jm. thick. From one side 16in of sap had been ctil, and from the other lUin, so the. present piece is genuine • heart timber. Ihe „iith of lhe tree from which if was milled was 38ft lOin. This giant grew in forest near the Kairanga. River, Thames district, a hush which has been milled out for many years, for iL is twenty years since Mr Saunders prize was trimmed. The estimated age ol the parent tree was 2000 years, and it would have been possible- Lo hilild live five-roomed cottages from its timber ijnly the huge breakdown benches of former years could have turned out such a flawless piece of heart kauri as this one. .There is no borer in it, and no S ap. It inis been carefully “tied up,” so that for all its great size it lias not warped with the years. Canadian or Russian mills cannot produce such a niccp of timber, aeunding to Mr Saunders. who lias made inquiries throughout the world lo satisfy himself that his treasure h the best there is.

Following on the recent resignation of Mi- |<\ C. I’ettit, City Valuer, the Town Cleric (Mr F. Mitchell) was asked to draw up a schedule of duties for the succeeding valuer. This schedule was presented to last night’s meeting of the City Council which referred the matter to a- committee consisting of Councillors E. R. Neale. 0. L. Page, and S. 11. Moynagh for approval, with power to act" in calling applications for the vacant position.

On behalf of the Nelson Swimming Club Councillor F. VY. Huggins made application to last night's meeting of the City Council for the use by the club of the men s dressing room at the Municipal baths for weekly meetings during the winter. He said lie had been approached on the matter by a member of the club, which was endeavouring to maintain interest, in swimming throughout the off season. In moving that the application he granted lie submitted that the swimming club was a body to be encouraged and that the request was a reasonable one if lighting and other expenses were paid. Several councillors expressed themselves as not in favour of' the request for several reasons, and the motion lapsed for want of a seconder.

It is pointed out in the animal report of the New Zealand Rugby Referees’ Association that, it has been the ”r:utice of the. executive to set examination papers for use by affiliated associations throughout New' Zealand in examining their members on their theoretical knowledge, of the laws of the game, and during tne past year there lias been a noticeable increase in the demand for papers. ’Pile examination is ol a fairly high standard, and those who desire to obtain the pass mark of 80 per cent, must have a first-class knowledge of the laws. No certificate is granted for a pass, the purpose of llie examination being merely to provide a lest wherebv local associations can satisfy themselves as to the theoretical knowledge of their members.

Under the heading "The Atheism of New Zealand” the current issue of the “New Zealand Baptist’ criticises the emission from the Dominion coinage of the letters indicating that King George is King "by the grace of God.” After explaining that tio perturbation is felt, regarding the dropping of the letters ”F.D.’’ (Defender of the Faith), the article proceeds: “Why omit D.G. I The letters are surely a reminder of two things. The first, that the King lias a. King other than the people, ail Eternal Lord to Whose sceptre lie boxvs. The second, that all the pageant of State and all the intricacy of trade must at last ho tested by the external laws of righteousness. We think we are entitled to know who is responsible among our politicians and their advisers for this lapse into nominal atheism. To Australians and the British George is King D.G., hut not to officialdom in New Zealand.”

It is expected that the Parliamentary Committee which is inquiring into the film industry will complete its deliberations early next month. At. the conclusion of yesterday's sitting the committee adjourned for Easter, and the present indications are that it will be in a position to report to the Goveminent about a week after the vacation. The chairman of the committee is Mr A. Harris, M.P. for Waitemata.

“I’d give it as a present to the Mayor of Richmond, with a- picture ol you on one side and one of him on the other facetiously suggested Councillor- S. HMoynagli addressing the .Mayor (Mr \\ j. Atoffitt) at last night’s meeting of the City Council when the disposal of the Council’s old fire engine was under discussion. The Mayor had previously commented that lie understood tne Richmond brigade wanted the engine.

New Zealand’s national game has been taken up enthusiastically m Fiji and Samoa. The progress there is referred to in the annual report ot the New Zealand Rugby Referees’ Association. which states:—"Tt is indeed gratifying lo hear ot the rapid strides being iiiailc by the Rugby game in the Islands, and the latest communication from them shows that their refeiees realise the'responsibility of their position as exponents of the laws ot the came and are consequently desnous ot being kept up to date with all the latest rulings and interpretations. liana books have been forwarded to them and the regular circulars and papers arc sent in order that their desire f o he up to date should be gratified. ’

One of the not-too-inany cheerful experiences in farm life this season is the revival of the market : for chewing s fescue (states the Dunedin “Star ). Last year it crashed seriously. For a •■cod machine-dressed sample grown in Otago the best offer was Id a- pound. The ..grower preferred to put this seed into store and take the chance of a rise, ~nJ now lie lias the pleasure of receiving Gd a pound. Sales of this season s seed have been made up to 7d. The recovery is particularly gratifying to Otago and Southland growers since they produce nearly all the chewing s fescue that New Zealand soil yields. Fruit exporters are advised by advertisement in this issue with reference to the closing down of the assembly points during, the Easter holidays.

A number of Anglican churches adopt the custom of using pictures—lantern slides thrown on to a sheet—on Goc-d Friday, night to explain the storv of Christ’s last week leading up to Calvary. The evening service, hymns, as well as pictures are. ail projected on to the sheet. Such a service will held in All Saints’ Church on Good Friday night, and will he conducted by the vicar, the Rev. I). Haultain.

At last night’s meeting of the Nelson City t'ouncil Councillor G. L. Page stated that at the present time Mr Kidson, who was in charge of the Welilington City Council's tar sealing woYk, was at pre-scut on vacation in Nelson and lie suggested that Air Kidson he asked to give a talk to councillors on the Wellington method of sealing. He pointed out that about 15 miles of sealing had been clout: in Wellington in the last few months and that the method adopted there was the most up-to-date in New Zealand. The visitor would probably he able .also to give some information in regard to dealing with the dust nuisance from streets until they could he sealed. Councillor Rage was asked to arrange a meeting with Mr Kidson.

Under the auspices of the Nelson Ministers’ Fraternal, a three hours' service will be lurid in All Saints’ Church tomorrow afternoon commencing at 2 o’clock. It is of an inler-chureli character and will appeal to very many who annually wish to see Good Friday kept with hallowed reverence and respect. It is Imped that all who can will come for the i oimneni i-meiil of the service Worshippers may lOitte and go at anv time during the service nruvifled it -s dining the singing of a hymn. Hymn sheets will he provided. 1 h t . olTering . will he lor tin- Mayor's Unemployed fie lief Fund.

In reference to the local unemployment committee's report published recently it was staled in error that the milk "sub-committee was under the direction of Mrs W. Lock, whereas Airs R. .Moncrieff is in charge of that branch of the relief activities.

The Abattoir Manager (Mr G. \Y. Mitchell) reported as follows to last night’s meeting of the City Council in respect to stock slaughtered in the fortnight ending yesterday: Cattle, 94 ; calves. 21; sheep, • 696: lambs. 206 ; pigs, 63; total, 979. Condemned during the period, 1 cow and 1 sheep.

On Good Friday morning a special service will be held in the Richmond Baptist Church. The preacher will be Li,.. i; ; - v . ,7. ]} Jensen of Auckland, who has come to Nelson as the special speaker at the combined Faster camp of the young people of the Nelson an 1 Richmond Baptist Churches. I lie camp opens to night" and continues till Tuesday morning next.

“Now that the big dam is running ever is it necessary to keep the pumps going?” asked Councillor G. L. Page at last night’s meeting of the Nelson City Council. The Mayor and several councillors agreed that it (would be advisable to clean out the reservoir before taking the supply from that source. The City Engineer (Mr J. G. Little john) stated that the dam would be cleaned out immediately after the Easter holidays.

When the question of the value o', a section of land in Russell street which the City Council intended to sell came before last night’s meeting of the council. Councillor S. A. Gibbs suggested that the area was a suitable one for the establsibment of a children’s play ing area, by purchase from the Jackson bequest.. Several councillors spoke "u favour of the suggestion and on ( ouncillor 11. A. A. Wasiibourn’s motion it was decided to leave the disposal ol the property in abeyance pending information in regard to the bequest referred to. Tt will be recalled that the late Mr R. B. Jackson left a substantial sum to the city for the establishment of children’.-* playing areas.