LOCAL AND GENERAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIX, 30 January 1936, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

O — The interprovincial Idle Along yacht championships for the Moffatt Cup are to be held at Wellington next week. Entries do not .close until Saturday, but already challenges have been received from Nelson, South Auckland, Otago and Southland. Races will begin on Thursday and continue on Friday and Saturday of next week. The contest will be decided in a series of five races, worked on the same points system used in the Campbell Cup contest at Wellington earlier in the season. These decisions were reached at a meeting of the Wellington Provincial Yacjit and Alotor Association.

When dealing with an application for a building permit at the last meeting of the Richmond Borough Council the Mayor (Mr H. Warren Kelly) referred to the renewed activity in building in the borough after a long period of comparative slackness. The fact that no fewer than eight permits had been issued for houses recently was an indication, stated Air Kelly, of more confidence and some initiative on the part of those concerned.

“It seems to m« that we have gone as far as we can,” said Air W. A. O’Callaghan, chairman of the North Island (N.Z.) Alotor Union at the halfyearly meeting of the union yesterday when the question of motor taxation came up for discussion (reports “The Post”). Air O’Callaghan said that it would bo necessary to watch any developments which might take place. Al r F- W;. Johnston (Canterbury) said that file union would have to take a broad view in regard to roading. The back roads to-day would become the intermediate roads of to-morrow and main roads of years to come. It seemed to him that the Alain Highways Board should be strengthened; not weakened. The board was a democratic institution. In his opinion the whole of the funds collected through motor taxation should be administered by the Main Highways Board. The petrol tax, said Mr A. Grayson (Auckland), was a class tax. It .was not equitable that motorists as a class should be asked to pay a tax to give relief to counties in respect of their i road responsibilities. He thought an endeavour should be made to have the fourpence per gallon special tax removed. It was decided to hold the matter over pending further developments. An interesting thesis on deputations and their peculiarities could be written by. the Hon. R. Semple and the Hon. P. C Webb after their experiences on the recent West Coast Ministerial tour (says .the Christchurch “Star-Sun”). From Nelson down to Weheka deputations of nil sizes and styles were encountered and the total for the ten days’ lour was in the hundreds. Some speakers were in no hurry to finish their remarks, while others were commendably brief and in several cases the requests and remarks thereon were handed to the Ministers in manuscript form, speeding up proceedings considerably. Air Semple, in fact, had no hesitation in showing his delight when he met a deputation which placed its facts and figures before him on paper, and the Misister several times expressed the hope that deputations throughout the country would adopt the practice of placing before him papers containing their requests and the remarks they wished to make.

During 1935 there was an increase in the number of picture theatres operating in New Zealand. The number of theatres operating from one to six nights a- week is now 369, as compared with 394 in 1934. If to those is added 29 country town circuits, comprising 203 halls, where pictures are shown at regular intervals, there are now 563 theatres or halls, where pictures are shown on a commercial basis, as compared with 498 in 1934. In addition there ‘ire 13 institutions, such as sanataria and hospitals, where pictures are screened more or less regularly for the inmates and staff.

Yes! College and school wear all reduced at Trathen’s Sale.*

A petition is being taken round New Zealand for the purpose of obtaining the signatures of business men protesting against departmental stores being permitted to cany on more than one business under one roof. This petition originated in Wellington in September last, and there are six canvassers on the road, and it is hoped to complete the canvass of New Zealand by the end of September. The canvassers state that so far they have met with great success, and a very large number of signatures have been obtained. The petition will be presented to Parliament during the forthcoming session.

To-morrow Trathen’s Sale provides further reductions on quality drapery.*

Model Alillinery sacrificed at the ridiculous price of 5/-. Usual prices 19/11, 25/- and 32/6. Don’t miss these values. AleKya’s Sale.* Substantial reductions on quality drapery is (lie motto at Tratlien’s Sale. Special selling to-morrow. Shop early.*

Printed Cotton, Floral Voile and Pique Frocks. Dressy little styles trimmed oi'Qt'findie kilting and short sleeves, S.S.W. to W. fittings 17/11, for 5/-. McKay’s Sale.* Show room and fashion goods about half prices. Trathen’s Sale.*

The Anchor Company announces that the sailing of the Arahura for Wellington this evening has been postponed until 8.30 o’clock. Intending passengers are requested to note this alteration.

“From what I can hear both Mr G. Ilarkness, the retiring secretary and Mr Li. Cato, the new secretary, are optimists,” said the Bishop of Nelson, the Ft. Rev. W. G. Hilliard in speaking at a social gathering in the Y.M.C.A. last evening. “Optimism is a wonderful asset,” he continued. “They say there is not much difference between an optimist and a pessimist, but the pessimist says: ‘Tilings are rotten,’ while the optimist says: ‘Things are ripe.’”

There arrived in Nelson to-day part of the air mail from the United Kingdom carried by the British air liner City of Khartoum which was lost in the Mediterranean sea. The salvaged mail was, of course, damaged by sea water. Letters written by hand in ink suffered more than those typewritten, the latter being reasonably decipherable. In some cases the stamps remained on the envelopes. An explanatory printed note from the General l’ost Office, Sydney, was included in the new envelopes provided for tlie damaged mail, which left London on 24th December.

Speaking at a social gathering last night to farewell Mr G. Harlcness, who has for the past nine years been secretary and physical director at the Nelson Y.M.C.A., Mr W. Armstrong said Mr Ilarkness was to be congratulated on his appointment to the position of physical director at Christchurch, where the most extensive work of the kind was carried on in New Zealand.

The necessity of having curves on main highways properly banked was stressed at the half-yearly meeting of the North Island (N.Z.) Motor Union in Wellington. Several delegates referred to stretches of road which were rendered dangerous owing to the lack of banking at the corners. Mr W. A. Sutherland, secretary of the Automobile Association (Wellington), said that the main north road at Porirua iiad been remade bv the Main Highways Board, and the corners scientifically banked. The result was that modern cars could travel on this road at high speeds in perfect safety. It was decided to draw the attention of the Main Highways Board to the urgency of banking corners on main highways. Thp combined social conpnittees of the Loyal Nelson Lodge and .Nelson Defence Rifle Club will hold their fortnightly dance in the Oddfellows’ Hall to-morrow night, when patrons are assured of a pleasant evening’s entertainment. The programme will include the Monte Carlo and Early Bird with special prizes for the winners and runners up, and interspersed with the usual favourites will be One Steps and Fox Trots. Supper with coffee <and cool drinks will be served at 10.10 p.m. and a special item lias been arranged for the interval. Mr H. Williams’s Band will supply the latest music and Bro. G. S. Coleman will be the M.C

How an enterprising boy with one pack horse laid the foundations of one of the leading motor transport businesses in the North Island is related in a booklet issued by the Rotorua Motor Transport Company. In 1869 Edwin Robertson, a lad of eleven, bought a packhorse from the Maoris for 15s, and began a delivery “round” to various outposts in the bush. His beat- was 74 miles and took eight days to cover. The boy’s pluck and enterprise was the more notable by reason of the fact that Te. Kooti, the rebel chief, was terrifying the area by his raids on the Arawa villages. In 1870 Te Kooti “blew in” with his band on Rotorua and fought his last open engagement around the site now occupied by the R.M. offices. The booklet contains an account of geyser activity with diagramatlC' illustration of how a geyser is formed bv superheated underground waters; The Tarawera eruption is pictured, and there are also chapters on flora and hir'd life in the regions, while considerable space is devoted to the history and customs of the natives. The Motueka branch of the N.Z.R.S.A. requests all ex-servicemen in the district to parade at the War Memorial, Motueka, at C. 45 p.m. on Sunday next, for the purpose of attending service at St. Thomas’ Church. The new hall at Brooklyn will be officially opened on Wednesday, sth February at 3 p.m. by Mr K. J. Holyoake, M.P., after which entertainment will be provided free to all, in the way of sports for the children and other atractions advertised. In the evening, a dance will be held, when music will be supplied by Williams’ orchestra of six musicians, and patrons will have an opportunity of trying out the new floor.

On Saturday at the Motueka Cricket Ground the senior match, Motueka v. Nelson, will be played,,and at Riwaka the junior match, Motueka v. Waimea, for the S. L. llowlfng Cup. A gladiolus exhibition will he held under the auspices of the St. Thomas’ Ladies’ Guild at St. Thomas’ schoolroom, Motueka, on Friday afternoon and evening. Afternoon tea will be provided during the afternoon session.

The following story almost savours of fiction, but nevertheless is actually true, reports the “Star’s” Whitianga correspondent. Recently at Tairua, on the Fast Coast, an elderly-man by the name of Simmonds living in that quiet, salubrious place, while endeavouring to wring the neck of a fowl broke his arm. As this is' perhaps the first occasion of such a happening it may go down ,in history as unique.

Several interesting documents, .including plans and specifications of what was then one of the largest graving docks in the world, and still is one of the widest, are in the possession of Mr S. Jickell, civil engineer, of Palmerston North. He drew the plans when he succeeded Mr T. C. Hartnell as draftsman, and during the five years of construction work from 1883 to 1888 was chief assistant to Mr William Herrington, chief engineer. “The Calliope dock was not named after the warship which first entered it, as is commonly supposed ” said Mr Jickell; “There have been three vessels named Calliope. The first was the full-rigged ship which used to lie off Orakei and practise with her nuns into what was even then known as Calliope Point. When the construction of the dock was begun, excavations for the site had to be blasted out of the sandstone, and after a hill 70ft high had been removed excavations were continued 58ft below ground level. The present naval base is situated on ground reclaimed with spoil taken from the Calliope Dock site.” The Calliope Dock | was one of the first ever constructed in i concrete, said Mr Jickell. The contract! ' price, £135,000, did not include the cost of installing machinery and pumps. The dock was opened by the Governor, Sir William Jervois. and the first two ships to enter were the Calliope and Diamond. Two German vessels, one of which was the Alexandrine, used it next. At the opening ceremony someone forgot to ' open the penstock tunnel, which releases ! water into the sea. The pumps were I started, and water was soon swirling a ' foot deep round officials in the engine room before the error was discovered, j The. ladies preient had to hasten to change their bedraggled finery. j

Spin Silk and Crepe ile Cliene Blouses, long and short sleeves, Peter i Pair collars and cravat necklines. Sizes 1 131 to 15. 19/11 to 27/6, for 9/11 and ■ 5/-. McKay’s Sale.* *