LOCAL AND GENERAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIX, 31 January 1936, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

To-morrow tlie usual holiday will be recognised or, the occasion of the 94th anniversary of the foundation of Nelson.

“There seems little doubt that certain countries, including Great Britain, have tended to swing too far along the road of industrialism to the detriment of agricultural pursuits. The prospect of a country becoming almost entirely an industrial centre is not a happy one, nor does it seem desirable for some countries to remain entirely agricultural." remarked Mr G. A. Lawrence during the course of an address to the annual meeting in Dunedin of the Institute of Chemistry. ‘‘Apart from the obvious military weakness under such conditions,” lie went on to say, “it is unpleasant to think of industrial workers being entirely removed from the amenities of rural surroundings, and it is equally detrimental for rural people to be entirely removed from the cultural influence afforded by larger cities and towns. The lessons which were learned from the last war have shown the undesirability of predominant dependence of one country on another for necessities, and the struggle since that time for national sufficiency has at least had the effect of stimulating some of the industries which had beei flagrantly neglected.”

The City Council and local bodies in the outlying areas interested in the proposed Roding river water supply recently made representations to the Minister of Employment for a substantial subsidy on the wages of men employed on the work. At last night’s meeting of the Council a letter was received from the Minister advising that he was not yet able to reply to the request which would be given further consideration.

A letter was received from the Nelson Fire Board at last night’s meeting of the City Council requesting the Council to co-operate with the Board in the matter of penalties for chimney fires. It was decided that the Council would co-oper-ate as provided in the bylaws.

In this issue the Railway Department advertises the cancellation of the trains leaving Belgrove for Nelson at 8.36 a.in on Mondays and Wednesdays and at 12 noon on Fridays as from and including Monday, 3rd February. After this date the usual 7.20 a.m. Belgrove-Nelson timetable will again come into operation.

The Commonwealth and Dominion Line announces that it has decided to shorten tlie name of the companv which will in future be known as the Port Line.

At last night’s meeting of the Nelson City Council the Engineer (Air J. G. Littlejohn) advised that 21 miles of the 157 miles of streets in the city had now been permanently sealed.

Passengers .for Wellington are remind cd that the time of sailing of the Ma tangi this evening is at 10 o’clock.

The following stock was slaughtered at the Nelson Abattoir in the fortnight ending yesterday: Cattle, 105; calves, 21; sheep, 603 ; lambs, 147 ; pigs, 60 ; total 936. That information was contained in the fortnightly report of the manager (Mr G. W. Mitchell) to last night’s meeting of the City Council.

A proposal that the Government should be urged to introduce State lotteries for the purpose of relieving the burden of hospital maintenance was advanced at a meeting of the Palmerston North Hospital Board, but was defeated on the casting vote of the chairman. Mr J. Boyce, who had sponsored a similar proposal two years ago, drew attention to the success of the Irish Free State sweepstakes in raising money for hospital purposes. He said he was not trying to foster the gambling spirit. It was here already, and steps should be taken to stop money going out of the country. The board had under contemplation' a building scheme costing £IOO,OOO. and it would be a great help if some of that money could be found from a State lottery. Seven members of the board voted for the proposal and seven against, the motion being defeated on the chairman’s casting vote. “Well, tiiat is very- satisfactory,” said Mr Boyce. “The last time I raised the matter I did not get a seconder.”

A letter was recently received by the City Council from the Mayor of W elliimton with regard to the proposal to celebrate the centenary of New Zealand and of Wellington, and inviting the Nelson City Council to be represented at a conference to be held in Wellington. The Mayor (Mr G. L. Page) received telegraphic advice yesterday that the conference bad been postponed in the meantime but that it would be held at a later' date. It was decided that if possible the Mayor attend the conference when it is held.

With the accession of King Edward VIII. a large number of ‘ plates on letter-boxes,' bearing the inscription G.R. become out of date. Although it is 26 vears since King Edward VII. died there are still boxes which bear plates with the inscription E.R., and these are now correctly, marked. I resumably the plates are not changed until they become defaced, for until a few years ago plates marked \ .K., which were put up in the time oi Queen Victoria, were not uncommon.

From the bagpipes to a violin worth about £BOO is the musical experience oi the Very Rev. Father Alex. McDonald. Father 'McDonald remarked at a farewell given to him by the parishioners of St. Mary’s, Christchurch,, that in his extreme youth he had played the bagpipes (reports “The Press”). it had not been a “one-man job. He had been assisted by his brother. AH his life he had been keenly interested in music, and at the present time, because of the generosity of Archbishop Redwood, he was the possessor of a valuable violin worth about £BOO.

The combined social committees of the Loyal Nelson Lodge and Nelson Defence Rifle Club will hold their fortnightly dance in the Oddfellows’ Hall to-morrow night (Saturday), 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 has 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.

Westport is not getting the overseas bunker trade now that it got formerly (says the “News”). One reason for this no doubt is, that there are far more oil burning vessels now loading in New Zealand waters than formerly. Again, it is pointed out, that the order of coaling at the port is, first vessel in the roadstead, and overseas vessels coming for bunkers mav suddenly find several other boats arriving just ahead of them, necessitating a delay in their receipt of cargo, which was costly to the ship owners. “How would you remedy this?” was a question asked. “Give a preference in loading to the overseas boat,” was the prompt reply.

The Nelson Citizens’ Silver Band will give a memorial concert on Sunday evening at the Church Steps, commencing after church services. By special request the Band will play Chopin’s Funeral March and the “Garland of Flowers,” also “Abide With Me,” and “Deep Harmony.” A collection will be taken in aid of the Band’s new uniform fund. “If we start interfering with the right-hand rule we are only looking for trouble. . . . The rule is working very well,” said a delegate at the half-yearly meeting of the North Island Motor Union this week in reference to a proposal by the Wanganui Automo bile Association and the South Island 'Motor Union that traffic on side roads should give way to traffic on main high ways. Another delegate pointed out the difficulties of defining main highways and side roads and the danger of the proposed rule conflicting with the present right-hand rule. No action was taken by the meeting. One of Auckland’s oldest identities has been telling an interviewer about the early days. There were no attractive shops in the “Queen City” in the long ago—just a few general stores, “and sometimes,” said the veteran, with a smile, “when ships from overseas were delayed, as often happened then, we had to do without things it was hard to do without. I remember once all the storekeepers ran out of tobacco and we had nothing to smoke for a week or two. It was poor stuff, that tobacco, anyhow. You’re better off than we were, for ‘toasted’ is sold everywhere now—as fine stuff as money can buy.” Such reminiscences are always interesting. Yes, and the difference ’twixt Auckland ancient and modern is hardly greater than that between ordinary tobacco and the genuine “toasted.” “As fine stuff as money can buy” certainly aptly describes Cut Plug No. 10 (Bullshead), Navy Cut No. 3 (Bulldog), Cavendish, Hiverhead Gold and Desert Gold —so fragrant and delicious, so soothing and solacing and —being toasted —so comparatively harmless !*