GENERAL ITEMS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 11 June 1936, Page 6

GENERAL ITEMS

In connection with remarks made concerning the number of matriculation passes at Nelson College, it is well known that Nelson College possesses a particularly high record in this respect. Comparisons with other schools of similar size, last yeai c how Nelson with 40 passes, and others with 14, 20, 25, 30, and 32. Considering that one third of the pupils of Nelson College took the Technical course, the comparison with some of the other institutions is even more in Nelson’s favour. In the course of. conversation with the deputation from the Harbour Board which waited upon him in Wellington in connection with aerodrome matters, the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple, said that he intended to visit Nelson during the Parliamentary recess for the purpose of investigating the question of the Nelson water supply. In a recent “bottle drive” at Richmond for the purpose of raising funds for the Waimea Scout troop, 2000 bottles were collected in the borough. There is a possibility that the Hume Pipe Company, Ltd., will shortly commence the manufacture of reinforced concrete pipes in Greymouth, _ if a suitable factory site is obtainable (states the “Star”). Small increases were granted to members of the Harbour Board staff (exclusive of the higher paid officials) yesterday when the matter of the annual revision of salaries came before the Board. Sample impressions of the datestamps used in post offices throughout New'Zealand were recently obtained by headquarters so that those which are giving indistinct impressions can be replaced. One of the interesting points discovered was that some of these date-stamps whose impressions are so familiar to everyone have been in regular service for twenty years and are still giving clear impressions. They are designed for long life, for the letters upon them stand out in high relief deeply engraved on steel. The changeable dates in the centre of the stamp are also of metah The pantograph principle is used in the engraving machines, one arm of the pantograph following a stencilled plate on which has been cut the letter to be engraved, the cutting arm of the machine reproducing this outline exactly but on the much smaller scale seen on the date-stamps. The steel discs used are softened for engraving, and afterwards hardened so effectively that twenty years’ efficient use is not regarded as remarkable. Advice has been received from the Trinity College of Music, London, that Master Wilfred Lang, of Westport, and formerly of Stockton, has been awarded an advanced senior exhibition for the pianoforte. In this grade two exhibitions are awarded annually in New Zealand to the candidate attaining the highest position. At the conclusion of the practical examintion at the Convent of Mercy, Granny, in August of last year, the examiner, Mr Egerton Lowe, spoke in the highest terms of the work presented in all grades. Master Lang, then only 154 years, was especially commended for his musical rendering of Debussy’s “La fille aux Cheveux de lin.” To quote the examiner, "This is a most difficult piece, for the correct interpretation of which an artist is necessary.” This promising young pupil is now living in Westport, and is continuing his studies at the Convent of Mercy. The popularity of the words “New Zealand” in the titles of organisations and firms creates a little problem in connection with telephone directories. Careful thought is giver, to their arrangement, with the object of causing the minimum amount of difficulty in finding a subscriber’s number. Every entry has to appear in strict alphabetical order, so that the prefatory words “New Zealand” occurring in a large group serve to partly obscure a large number of the entries. The Wellington directory, for instance, has 200 entries commencing “New Zealand,” but the Post Office is unable to ttwke i.ny re-arrangement of the long !;..t f"r the purpose of achieving easier reference, as the great majority of the entries are the registered legal titles of companies or incorporated bodies. The telephone service is growing fast, and looking ahead, one visualises the time when too many “New Zealands” in the list will become embarrassing, particularly to subscribers in a hurry. From a reference point of view', the most suitable title for a firm is that which gives ai indication of its business in the first word. I Friends and supporters of the British and Foreign Bible Society are reminded that the annual meeting of the Nelson Auxiliary will take place at the Mia Mia Tea Rooms, Hardy street, at 7.30 this evening. The Very Rev. P. B. Haggitt, Dean of Nelson, will preside. The Rev. David Calder, 8.A., general secretary for New Zealand, will be the speaker. The committee of the recentlyformed organisation for the advancement of the city and district is promoting a competition for the submission of a suitable name for the organisation, and particulars of this will appear in !’The Mail” on Saturday next. Entries will close on the following Saturday, and a prize of two guineas is offered for the best name submitted. Customer Making Values at McKay's! See Special Table in our Showroom, of Wool Jumpers and Cardigans. A special purchase of extraordinary value, 9/11.* The Nelson Fire Brigade will hold another popular dance on Saturday night. Patrons are assured of a good evening’s dancing. Prizes are offered for Monte Carlo, lucky spot and other dances. Samples! Morleys and Wolsey sample underw'ear at Trathen’s tomorrow.* McKay’s Customer Making Values! Ladies’ Fur-trimmed Coats, smartly tailored, and trimmed Opossum and Foxaline Fur Collars. In Bottle, Wine, Brown and Navy. S.S.W. to 0.5., 59/6. * Many specials to-morrow at Trathen’s. See details, page 1 * The dance held in the Velma Hall to assist the funds for the provision of Plunket and Rest rooms was very successful. Mr Lex Logan’s Band de Luxe supplied the music, and Mr A. Gascoigne played the extra which was greatly appreciated. Good prizes were awarded to the winners of the Monte Carlo and Lucky Spot dances. Plenty of streamers and confetti freely distributed among the patrons helped to maintain the carnival spirit. The ladies from the R.S.A. social committee handed round a very dainty supper. The M.C., Mr G. L. Housiaux, thanked Ihese ladies and the doorkeepers and others who helped to make the evening such a success. Customer Making Values! Afternoon Frocks in Silk Crepes and Fancy Cloques, beautifully cut and trimmed Stitched Taffeta, finished attractive fobs and buckles. A wide range of colours and sizes, 69/6. At McKay’s.* j

The Nelson Hospital Board at yeslerdav’s meeting received £26 from the “Happiness Days’ Art Union,” for the relief of distress in the Murchison and Maggie Creek areas. Much impressed with the progress Great Britain is making towards economic prosperity, Mr G. Springhall, a well-known Wellington business man. returned to New Zealand in the Aorangi from a visit to England and America. He found some disappointment in America at the rate of progress of that country (reports the “N.Z. Herald”). Practically every industry in England was sharing in better times, said Mr Springhall. Building was playing an important part in employment. Large estates were being cut up and new suburbs were being created with modern homes and shopping centres. Indeed, the spring building programme already approved by local authorities for work to be carried out in the summer totalled £28,000,000, nearly £4,000,000 more than last year’s high figures. Shipping services in 1935 earned more than £5,000,000 more than in 1934, and in March of this year Lancashire spun 12,000,0001 b more cotton than in the corresponding month a year ago. Steel, engineering and shipbuilding extension programmes were greater than they had been since 1930, and aircraft plants were being doubled. While in London, Mr Springhall was informed by a high official of the Ministry of Labour that it was estimated that before the end of the summer the unemployed total would fall below the 1,500,000 mark, and this would be for the first time in seven years. There were more insured workpeople than ever before. They numbered 10,630,000. Yesterday was the fiftieth anniversary of the Tarawera eruption, one of the .great catastrophes in the history of New Zealand. It commenced and reached its heigh* in the early morning of 10th June, 1886. One hundred and eleven Maoris and Europeans were killed, a whole tribe of natives being wiped out, except one man. Dust blown up by the mountain buried the surrounding district, and the topography of the region was radically changed by the upheaval, one of the greatest losses being the Pink and White Terraces, famous scenic attractions. Lex Logan’s Band de Luxe with the cleartone amplifier will be playing at the Velma Hall on Saturday next when a well-arranged programme of old time and modern dances with novelties and a Monte Carlo competition will be presented. Special attention will be given to the floor, and the duties of M.C. will be in the hands of Mr Harold Williams.