LOCAL AN!) GENERAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIX, 29 January 1936, Page 4

LOCAL AN!) GENERAL

The Nelson School of Music will reopen for the first term on .Monday. 3rd February. An advertisement supplies particulars. Application should be made to the secretary, Mr W. T. Brimdell, Bogg and Co.’s. Trafalgar street.* White Boiling Silk Tennis Frocks, short sleeves, sporty styles and all good fitting, assorted sizes, 9/11 to 17/6, for 5/-. —McKay’s Sale.*

In connection with the paragraph recalling Nelson members in the specially selected New Zealand Volunteers for the bodyguard of the late King George when as Duke of Vork, lie visited Australia, it is also interesting to recall that Mr J. R. Wallace of Nelson was a member, representing the -Malvern Mounted Rifles. Twenty-five men were selected Iroin each branch of the service and also 25 Maoris and 25 Fijiians. '’l lie main occasion was the opening of the Federal Parliament. The origin of Jaffa oranges, which he claimed were the best in the world, was touched on by Dr. E. W. G. Masterman, F.R.C.8., D.P.H., in an address to members oi the Christchurch Rotary Club (reports “The Press’). Dr. Masterman said that the generally accepted view was that they were brought from China about two ’ centuries ago hv a monk, but this had not been substantiated beyond doubt. However, in recent years their cultivation had increased enormously until in 1934 5,000,000 cases had been sent out of the country.

A remarkable scholastic record has been achieved during the past two months bv Joyce and Grace Caradus, pupils of the New Plymouth Girls High School (stales the “Taranaki Daily News”). The girls are twin daughters of Mr and Mrs John Caradus, Filzroy. Both are brilliant scholars and remarkably evenly matched at their school work. At the conclusion of the Girls High School year in December last the teachers were unable to separate them and they were equal in the dux position. In’ the University national scholarship examination held towards the end of the year both again performed with distinction Joyce being 18tli on tnc list and Grace 2lst. Only 23 marks of a possible of about 25U0 separated the pair. The achievement of twins in gaining university national scholarships in the same vear is believed to be without parallel in the history of the exaimnj.lion The girls are as much alike m looks as they are in scholastic achievement and one of their teachers admitted that after five years she eouid not distinguish between them when they were apart She paid a tribute to their characters, staling that they were as fine and level-headed a pair of pupils as she had ever taught.

j\| r G.‘ Husheer. of the National Tobacco Company. Napier, who several veurs made a* donation ot xmjd to the Pelorus Scenic Board, upon his return home from a holiday spent at Pieton recently forwarded a donation ot £25 to the Ngakuta scenic board. In a covering letter Mr Husheer says: ‘ I take a live interest in the scenic attractions of your district and have derived much pleasure from using the wonderful Picton-Grove road to Havelock. I have also made frequent trips to the Pelorus bridge, and was greatly impressed with the many improvements made since I was there last. The track has been considerably extended, and a walk through tins part of the bush is one of my finest remembrances. There is no more deserving cause you could appeal for.”

In striking contrast to the conditions which prevailed in the Waikato last summer, when a prolonged spell of dry weather was experienced, the rainfall has been excessive during the last two months (states the Herald’ ). One effect has been that the production of butterfat during January has been double that for the corresponding month last year. With very much better prices being paid, and a much greater output, the lot of the dairyman should show a vast improvement this season. To offset the advantages gained by the prolific growth of grass', a great deal of hay has been spoiled by the rain. Very few who lett their haymaking until alter Christmas have been able to stack satisfactory crons, and large quantities of hay which had been cut and afterward ruined by the rain have been stacked and purpose)y destroyed by fire. The second growth of dross has been phenomenal, and n the weather holds fine for a period second crops of hay will be cut. bo luxuriant lias been the growth ot gross that some farmers have been able to taka a stack of ensilage and a stack of hay off the same paddock.

The 51st anniversary of the fall of Khartum and the death of General Gordon fell last Sunday. When a revolt broke out in the Sudan m 1884, the British Government ordered Egypt to abandon the territory, and Gordon was sent there to evacuate the Egyptian population. He was surrounded and beseiged in Khartum on 18th March, hut it was not until August that the British Government, under pressure of public opinion, took steps to relieve him. After a difficult journey the relief expedition readied Khartum on 28th January, to find that the city had fallen and Gordon had been killed two days before.

The first anniversary of the death of Bishop Sadlier, the late Bishop _of Nelson, tails on Saturday. The occasion will be marked in Blenheim by the dedication of a new pulpit in his memory at the Nativity oil Sunday morning. Designed by Mr Roger Bacon, of Picton, the pulpit is a beautiful piece of church furniture, typically ecclesiastical in form ajid based on the Gothic style. Hand-somely-figured heart riniu has been employed throughout, with panels of the same wood specially selected for their dark grain. These panels, five in number, are ornamented with Gothic arched beads, and are separated by solid angle shafts that take the form of columns supporting a decorative and heavilymoulded top (states the “Express”). The pulpit, which is nearing completion m Messrs A. Sowman and Son’s workshop, stands six feet high and has an adjustable book rest. The cost is being defrayed from funds raised by the Girls Friendly Society, which also proposes, with the assistance of donations from parishioners, to erect a tablet on the walls of the Church to perpetuate the late Bishop’s memory.

Alfred Gould advises the. following auction sales: Friday next at 1 p.m., furniture and effects at 85 Grove street, on account Mr 11. Toll; Wednesday, sth February, at 1 p.m., at Wakefield, furniture, etc.; on account j. mslees Y.M.C.A.; Thursday, 6th February, at 1 p.m., residential property, furniture and effects, in the estate late Miss Atkinson, Brougham street.* Oddments Berlei and Nu-Rival Corsets and Corselettes, assorted sizes, 10/6 to 21/-, for 5/-.— McKay’s Sale*

Should ladies smoke? A correspondent of an Auckland paper says “No,” and declares that “smoking by women is indecent.” A standard dictionary defines the word "indecent” as "offensive to modesty; immodest.” But lew 20th century people will see more immodesty in a lady smoking a cigarette than in her drinking a cup of tea or powdering her nose. Had this censorious party warned smokers of both sexes against the risk they run in smoking tobacco loaded with nicotine he would have rendered a public service, for therein lies a very real danger. However, the remedy is simple ; smoke “toasted,” which is practically freed from nicotine by the manufacturers. Special purifying process. The five brands of toasted—Cut Plug No. 10 (Bullsliead), Navy Cut No. 3 (Bulldog), Cavendish, Riverhead Gold and Desert Gold are as safe as tobacco can be made and a source of constant pleasure and delight to smokers everywhere. The three first named brands are unequalled for the pipe ; the other two make cigarettes of superlative quality. "Toasted” "spoils” ’-oil for all other tobaccos.* Lace and Broche Brassieres, Tea Rose and White. Sizes 32 to 36in., 2/11 to 4/6, for 1/- each.—McKay’s Sale.* j

Seven ships bringing i'uii cargoes of basic, slag from Antwerp are now on their way to Auckland (states tiio. ••Auckland Star”). When the last of j these cargoes is discharged, in March next, tins year’s importation of this , class of fertiliser will already have | reached a figure in excess of that for j any recent year, while other shipments j may follow later. The steamers that, are now on their way are the Pensilva ( due. on 6th February, the Antigone due on 10th February, the Tymerio due on jLstli February, the Simonside due on ] 23rd February, the Anglo-Afriean due on 29th February, the Salvus due on 11th March, and the Anglo-Indian due on 15th March. So close are they behind one another that from the time the first, the Pensilva, arrives until the last, tile Anglo-Indian, has landed her cargo, the discharging of basic slag at Auckland will be practically continuous, interrupted probably only for a day or two between the departure of one ship and the arrival of the next, for tlie space of over two months. The reasons for the sudden increase in the importation of basic slag is difficult to ascertain, but presumably the opinion of the importers is that improved prices for their produce overseas will enable the farmers to use more fertiliser during the coining year. Last year only two ships discharged cargoes of basic slag at Auckland, and the year before there were none at all.

“All branches of the Young Men’s Christian Association in New Zealand arc, 1 find, alive to the post-war necessity of trying to see things through the eyes of the youth who knows nothing of pre-war conditions,” states Mr G. W. Simpson, 1.5.0., former Public. Service Commissioner for Western Australia, and president of the Western Australian section of the Young Men’s Christian Association (reports "The Press”). “This is essential,” he added, “if the work of the. organisation is to be carried out successfully.” Mr Simpson has been very favourably impressed by the branches in the four main centres, the buildings and locations being excellent in his opinion.

Owing to its natural advantages for tactical training, the Rotorua racecourse has been selected as the venue for the annual camps of most of the regiments and units of the Northern Command this year (states the “New Zealand Herald”). The Ngaruawahia camp will not be used for training purposes. During the next few months the permanent staff of the Northern Command will be busily occupied with the organisation and control of a series of camps at Rotorua, commencing next month. It is anticipated that the numbers going under canvas will compare favourably with those of last year. This year co-ordination of training is being sought by grouping units of infantry, mounted rifles, and artillery, and, where possible, a.detachment of signallers or engineers.

A number of Aucklanders are suffering this- summer from the bites of scarlet spiders, which are at first painful and afterwards both irritating and disfiguring, the part affected becoming red and swollen and remaining so, in some cases, for several days (states the •“Herald”). The spiders are so tiny as to be almost invisible to the unaided eye. The best remedy for the bites, as tar as lias been discovered, is the prompt and liberal application of boraeic ointment.

The Havelock-Picton road via the Grove has been declared a main highway as from 16th December last, according to official advice received by the Marlborough County Council (says the “Express’ 1 ). There has been a long-standing agitation in this direction, but for some time the County Council placed the New Remvick road first in order of importance for declaration. As the County Council will no doubt receive at least the standard subsidy of £3 for £1 on all future expenditure-on the new highway, the development of the length is expected to be expedited. It was mentioned by the County clerk (Mr A. J. Maclaine) that, including relief work, the County Council has been spending about £250 a year on the Pic-ton-Grove section. Even if the Council does no more than continue its present, rate of expenditure, tlm Highway Board subsidy will bring the total amount devoted to the road up to £IOOO, which will enable vast improvements to be effected.

Hopes of a recurrence of activity in tlie search for oil in Poverty Bay were expressed by Mr Charles N. Taylor, of Taranaki Oil Fields, No Liability, and managing-director of Moluroa Oil Fields, Limited He stated that negotiations were proceeding with large overseas interests and hoped that drilling would be resumed at certain points in the district before long. Information provided by a geological survey a few years ago, he showed that certain areas in Poverty Bay had possibilities for the location of oil at great depth. Drilling practice had advanced rapidly during the past few years and wells over two miles in depth were common in California to-day. Taranaki Oil Fields ceased operations in the Gisborne district on the last occasion about four years ago, following sustained efforts near Whatatutu and Nuhaka. The proposed sites for future boring are not disclosed yet, but they will be somewhere in the back-country behind Gisborne.