LOCAL AND GENERAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 6 November 1934, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Mention was made in the report of tiie Principal of tho Boys’ College at last evening’s meeting of the Council of Governors of tiie Nelson Colleges that through the efforts of several masters a sundial had been erected at the College, its foundation being one of the concrete battlements off tho Scriptorium. The inscription on the sundial, which was placed near the building, was: “At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them.”

The number of motor-vehicles licensed on 30th September was 178,652, of which number 118,461 were cars and 6(1,191 other motor-vehicles. A considerable increase was observed as compared with the June licenses, but this is a normal seasonal occurrence. The September figures represent increases over those of September of last year, amounting to 6 per cent, in both cases. Imports of motor-spirit during the nine months ending on esot.li September showed an increase of 15 per cent, over the total for the corresponding period of 1933.

The total amount raised this year throughout the Dominion in connection with tire Salvation Army denial appeal was £21,061, which is a little in advance of last year’s total. ;

The opinion that the Y.M.C.A. did at least as much good as sermons from pulpits in promoting spirituality among young people was expressed by Lord Bledinloc when opening the Memorial Hut at Petone on Sunday. Tho Y.M.C.A., he said did not look like Mrs Grundy at the innocent recreations and pleasures of young people, and did not prohibit sports, a game of cards, or a dance.

Two opposite points of view regarding the influence exercised by chambers of commerce was referred to by tho Hon. W. Downie Stewart, M. Ply in the course of his address at the Associated Chambers of Commerce conference at Christchurch (states the “Christchurch Times”). Recently, he stated, a Labour M.P. said that all the wastepaper baskets of New Zealand were crammed with resolutions passed by chambers of commerce. This startling and disparaging remark was no doubt meant to suggest that chambers of commerce resolutions were largely futile and ineffective, and that the organisation was a busv-hody without influence on public or Parliamentary opinion. “But lest you may be unduly cast down by this 'criticism,” Mr Stewart continued, “I may add that I know of other sections* of the community which hold an exactly opposite view; they believe that you are all-powerful, and that you exercise a malign and sinister control in the sphere of politics and have what is called ‘the private car of the Government.’ Indeed, more than once since I left office I have met deputations of raihvaymen and others who are firmly convinced that it was under your orders that the Government made the wages cuts and other economies of recent years. In order to correct their ideas, I have had to paint a picture of your real weight and influence in national affairs which you might regard as unduly impertinent and derogatory.” Mr Stewart said that probably fho truth lay midway between tho two extremes, as was usually the case.

A Port Chalmers resident told a “Star” reporter that he personally know the captain' and the parson concerned in the old-time sea incident of the parson thanking God that the sailors were swearing. It took place on one of the Glasgow Loch ships, the minister having taken passage on the sailer to investigate a vacancy for a tl.eologic.il professor in Australia, For the sake of making the fast passage for which Loch ships were noted, the skipper went far couth to run the easting down for Australia. One day the parson was gravely concerned about the safety of the sjiip, and the captain told him that while the sailors continued to swear in their watch below there was no real danger. With difficulty the minister made his way to the forecastle, and was comforted. The dorm increased, and the ship was dancing round so unsteadily that the second pilgrimago to the forecastle was made on hands and knees. The parson peeped in. Two sailori were fighting, and the language was a revelation. Bending his knees to balance himself to the roll of the ship the parson clasped his .hands, looked aloft, and exclaimed earnestly “Thank God.” The Port Chalmers man heard flic captain of the Loch ship tell the happening at a church social in Glasgow, and the min ister, who was present, made no coinu ent.

The weekly meeting of the recently formed Nelson Esperanto Group took place last evening. The enthusiasm which lmd been so marked at the earlier meetings was in no way lessened. After reading in Esperanto the minutes of the previous meeting the secretary (Miss Glen Carty) announced that greetings and best wishes had been received from various officials of the N.Z.E.A., and also from the Wellington Club. The latter sent a package of literature published in Esperanto. Mr L. IC. Dust, chief dsjegate for New Zealand of the W.E.A. had contributed addresses of clubs in far (lung reaches of tho globe, to which contact could be made in the same languages. These included Finland, Poland, Turkey and Brazil. Those announcements were received with applause. Attention was drawn to the fact that tlie sixth animal congress of the N.Z.E.A. would be held at Palmerston North at the end of the year, and hopes were expressed that there would be representation from the local group. Class work was resumed and good progress reported. A short programme of Esperanto items is being arranged for the next gathering.

That there are more New Zealanders permanently quitting (lie Dominion than there are immigrants coming to make a home here, is revealed in tho Abstract of Statistics for October. Arrivals in New Zealand intending permanent residence totalled 160 in September, while New Zealand residents numbering 218 departed permanently. During the expired six months of tho fiscal year, residents departing permanently exceeded arrivals intending permanent residence by 970.

An example of tiie value of a dog as a retriever of golf balls was given at Titiraugi, Auckland, when one of tho visiting American professionals, who was practising there, pulled a. ball into high tea-tree. Within two minutes a man emerged from the rough with two fox terriers, one of which had succeeded in finding the ball. He explained to the astonished American that the dog in question had a record of 2400 golf balls to his credit, and that his companion, which was still a puppy, had already found a substantial number.

Mr Arnold Wells reports that the laiufall for Mapua for the month of October was 6.71 inches; for the ten months of the year 35.81 inches.

To provide Christmas Cheer for the 427 lepers isolated ai Makogai, Fiji, gifts of money, amounting to £149 17s Id have been received up to 2nd November. The Minister oi Railways and tiie Postmaster-General have reduced charges to half rates on all parcels from the South Island, sent to Air P. J. Twoinoy of tiie Christchurch Gas Company, who is directing the appeal in Christchurch. The appeal closes on Saturday, 17th November.

Private advice received in Wellingtoi states that Tattersalls first prize o. £12,000 net was won by the “Three o Us” syndicate, c/o P.S.T., High street Lower Ilutt. The No. was 182,141. P.A. Message.

During a discussion at the Transport Licensing Authority meeting to-day an applicant in defending his right to the carrying of goods was involved in an argument with a fellow passenger license holder during which he asked him whether ho was to tell a resident of, say, Rotoiti who might ask him to bring a cake to Nelson; “Oh, wait for ; lie’ll be up next week.” The applicant submitted that his rival spent a lot of time oil the farm and did not run frequently, which statement the latter commenced to dispute when the chairman (Dr. S. A. Gibbs) said: “Never mind the farm.” “I don’t work on the farm now,” came the rejoinder. “Well you should. It’s very helpful,” remarked Dr. Gibbs.

Travelling down the Danube to Belgrade, a New Zealand journalist. Air P. L. Soljak, was surprised to hear Hungarian students on board the river boat—dressed just like those in the “Student Prince” —singing a song with the air of “Waiata Maori.” Writing to an Auckland friend, he says that on inquiring the source of the tune he was told it was one of an international collection m&de for them by one of their professors, states “The Star.” In Yugoslavia lie heard not only English spoken (by those who had returned from U.S.A. and tho British Dominions), but even Maori (locally Maoriski), a linguistic addition to the polyglot speech of the late King Alexander’s subjects brought by Yugoslavians who had sojourned in New Zealand. These incidents show how a New Zealander can be made to feel at home in a distant land. The people of Yugoslavia—especially those of Dalmatia—are keenly interested in both local and foreign politics. They are much better informed than the people of other European countries on world affairs, and are ready to discuss Hitlerism or Italian Fascism. They regard Mussolini as a danger to their safety, ’ and all Italians—their traditional enemies—as grafters.

“I think the defendants were foolish, but I also believe they are carrying out the scheme for charity,” said Mr F. K. Hunt, S.AL, in the Police Court at Auckland, when Percy James McCabe and Percival Arnold Reid were charged on summons with breaches of the Gaming Act. McCabe was charged with establishing a scheme by which an order for groceries or drapery to tiie value of £1 was to bo gained by a mode of chance, and Reid was charged with selling tickets in connection with, the scheme. Both defendants, for whom Mr Aokins appeared, pleaded guilty (states the “New Zealand Herald”). “There are too many of these raffles going around at present,” said Inspector Edwards. “People responsible for starting them do not seem to realise the serious attitude taken toward them by tho Legislature. Many tickets bear the word ‘donation’ on them, but the fact that a prize is drawn for makes them illegal without the consent of the Minister of Justice.” Mr Aekins said that the defendant McCabe was a member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, and had established the scheme to help the poor in tho Ellcrslie district. He himself had donated the £1 which was to purchase the prize, and he hoped to sell about £4 worth of tickets. It was only a small scheme, and was done in good faith, in the belief that the purchase of the tickets was looked on really as a donation for the needy. Actually only two tickets at 3d each were sold. Both defendants were convicted and ordered to pay costs.

“For some time the executive Ims been increasingly concerned over the widespread down-grading of schools which is taking place, mainly as a result of the exclusion of some 10,000 five-year-olds,” states “National Education,” the official organ of the New Zealand Educational Institute. “Complete figures are not, available, but returns from eight of the nine education boards show that 179 schools will fall In grade or sub-grade from Ist February next, involving the transfer or dismissal of about. 160 teachers.” Commenting on the position, the journal says editorially; “In no other branch of'the service is there any parallel to the virtual dismissal of hundreds of teachers, the general lowering of salary standards and the disorganisation of schools which has resulted, and is resulting, from the Government’s action in drastically reducing the school population. We believe that on grounds of equity and justice the situation calls for immediate adjustment.”

There have been cases of dogs making friends with rabbits, Alsatians that play with lambs, hawks that live peace, ably in aviaries of canaries, and other remarkable oddities of the animal kingdom that are reported generally from the United States of America; hut hero in Auckland (says the “Star”), is a bantarn hen that sits oil kittens while the mother cat lies happily beside the family group. However incredible it may seem, there is published a photograph to prove it, They all belong to a wellknown resident of Grange Road, Mount Eden. It appears that Dolly, the Cochin China bantam lion, makes a nest in an old dress basket. Before she could lay any eggs. Tubby, a fine, black female cat. decided lo have her kittens in the comfortable basket. Dolly, very bewildered, imagined that the tiny kittens were some queer species of chickens and promptly adopted them. For a fortnight now she has kept them warm under her wings, much to the delight of the kittens. Tubby lies luxuriously in the nest, grateful for the assistance Dolly gives her in bringing , up her family. Another member of the family, who is occasionally tolerated in the nest is Teddy, a fussy liLtlo bantam rooster.