LOCAL AND GENERAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIX, 28 January 1936, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Tile new liner that has been ordered from Vickers Armstrong Ltd.,, for the Orient Line, will be completed" in August, 1937, and will enter the Australian service almost. immediately. This vessel, the Orcades, will be approximately 24,000 tons gross register and will be practically a sister ship to the Orion which arrived in. Sydney on her maiden voyage on 7tli November. The contract provides that the company will submit the accommodation plans to the builders not later than May this year. The modifications that, will be introducetf>\viil be the result oi a careful study of the Orion. With the completion of the new vessel the Orient Company’s fleet will number nine ships, seven of which will be more than 20,000 tons gross. The decision of the company to build a second new passenger ship is regarded among Sydney shipping representatives as a remarkable expression of confidence in the future of the Australian trade.

That there was a complete absence of any ill-feeling towards the British in Naples was remarked by .Mr I). Arnott, of Christchurch, when he visited the city on his voyage to England a year ago, and on his return recently (states “The Press’’). .Mr Arnott added that the Abyssinian question seemed to be tt ken less seriously in England than in New Zealand. During his trip through the Suez Canal, however, he had seen a company of the British Grenadiers, a regiment that seldom went out of England, oil its way to strengthen the garrison at Port Said. He had also seen an Italian troopship with 4000 troops on board.

Gisborne fruit crops are much later this year, as a result of poor seasonal conditions (states the “Poverty Bay Herald”). Tomatoes are still dear at a time when they are usually glutting the markets, while stone fruits are so affected with disease that_ the crops marketed are very small. Pip fruits are not so greatly affected yet, but a continuance of adverse weather may increase the development of black spot to a serious extent. Tomato crops are several weeks later than usual. A prominent fruiterer in Gisborne said that by this time last year the best tomatoes were retailing at 2d per lb., with supplies obtainable at Id. The present price was 8d to 10d per ib. over the counter. Stone fruit such as peaches, nectarines and apricots are; using marketed m very small quantities, as a result of brown rot. In seasons such as the present, it is impossible to control this disease, -uid crops yield an unprofitable return. The inevitable result is that supplies aro dear. Indications are for a big crop of apples and pears in the Gisborne district, and so iiu' tlie crops are not backward. They were affected a few months ago by haiisfurms, but the setting was so heavy that it was anticipated that there would be little effect on the ultimate crop.

Hamilton is experiencing something like a boom, writes a correspondent. Commercial travellers calling on shopkeepers, and the local shopkeepers themselves, are agreeably surprised at urn volume of business which has continued to be done since Christmas. Houses in tlie Hamilton suburbs are at a premium, and builders have secured contracts for many months ahead Probably tile most encouraging sign that the depression has ended, so far as Hamilton is concerned, is the fact 11 ia• 61 permits have been granted for houses either being built or to be erected in the near future. The improved conditions are undoubtedly the result af the; improved prices being received by farmers for their produce, and the general feeling of optimism which is prevailing, making Hamilton one of the most progressive towns in the country. With keenness amounting to anxiety (says the Melbourne “Age”) aviators in Australia are following the discussions between the British and the Australian Governments concerning the proposals to use giant seaplanes only for the English-Australian air mail service. There seems to be a distinct cleavage of opinion between politicians and flying men. Politically the British proposals are in favour here. It is argued Glut tile Air Ministry lias far more knowledge of (ho capabilities of flying boats than has Australia, that flying boats would make an all-red route practicable (by obviating flights over France, Italy, the Dutch East Indies, and other countries), and would be safer over the long sea stretches than land planes. Airfaring men here, however, predict the stagnation of our internal air services if tlie flying boats are employed. They draw a doleful picture of silent aerodromes and grounded planes, the local companies left with only the flotsam of the air-borne trade and the luxury seaplanes taking not only mails, but passengers and freight. Local flying~interests, which have spent substantially on planes and equipment, declare that an issue so momentous should be thrashed out by experts froin all brandies of aviation and of transport. Grayenstein exporters are advised by advertisement in this issue in regard to the shipping of the balance of this variety.

A final reminder is given of the social evening to he given in the Y.M.C.A. Rooms to-morrow evening as a farewell to Mr and Mrs G. Harkness on the eve of their departure for Christchurch. The opportunity' will also be taken to extend a- welcome to the new General Secretary and his wife, Mr and Mrs L. Cato. All past and present members and their friends and others interested are cordially invited to be present. An excellent programme of musical and other items has been arranged and a most enjoyable evening is promised. The function is to commence at 8 o crock. Fruitgrowers in the Mapua district are notified by advertisement in this issue of a meeting to be held at Tasman on 30th January. Large consignments of sheep from Queen Charlotte and Pelorus Sounds, as well as d’Urville Island, are arriving at Wanganui. The motor-ship Alexander has been making frequent trips to Castled iff and has already brought thousands of sheep this season. Equipped with all the facilities for quick loading and discharge, the Alexander is capable of landing 1000 sheep in less than two hours. Owing to the hilly nature of the country where these sheep are run, the animals are taken to Wanganui to be fattened.

Alfred Gould announces an Auction Sale of Furniture and Effects to lie hold at 85 Grove street at 1 p.m. on Tuesday next on account of Mr Herbert Toll.*

In to-day’s issue the Railway Department advertises train arrangements and cheap fares on Saturday, Ist February, in connection with Anniversary Dav.

In a preface to an address at New Plymouth, Captain H. M. Rushworth, M.U., Dominion president of the Douglas Social Credit Movement, said there were 235 delegates at the conference, who came from all parts of the Dominion (reports the “Herald”). This should be said that each branch can have only one delegate at a conference, and the 235 represent accredited delegates. There are over 100 members of the movement at the camp conference who are not accrue!ited delegates. A .report that on the whole the income was very satisfactory was presented at the annual meeting of the Methodist Mission Board, held last week (reports the “New Zealand Herald”). The president of the Methodist Conference, the Rev. J. 11. llaslam presided. However, it was pointed out by several of the members that a keener sense of responsibility was required on the part of ihe Church members if the whole programme to which the Church had committed itself was to be carried out, including the re-establishment of the medical unit in 1938 and the immediate reappointment of Nurse Edna White at the Helena Goldie Hospital. The president of the Methodist Women's Missionary Union, Mr W. H. Duke, gave an excellent report of the union’s activities, which showed that £2582 had been raised during the year for home and foreign missions. The Rev. A. 11. Scrivin referred to his recent visit to the Solomon Islands district and paid a tribute to the work of the missionaries, both black and white. The cessation pf inter-tribal warfare and the pursuit of nobler ambitions were manifest on all sides, tiie intellectual ability of the younger generation being indicated by the fact of the son of a former headhunter having recently passed the entrance examination for the medical school at Suva. It was stated that the, Rev. IJ. Gina was expected in New Zealand in 1937 to undertake deputation work.

The preliminary work in the construction of a timber mill at the mouth of the Big Wanganui river, South Westland, has been almost completed, and active operations were expected to begin yesterday. Thirty-five men are now employed at the miil. including 12 married men. No provision lias yet been made for a school, though there arc 18 children of school age. Neither are there any means at present for the outlet of Lhe product of the mill, the only access being by a corduroy track through two miles and a half of dense bush. The estimated daily output of the mill will be 20,000 superficial feet of red and while pine.