GENERAL ITEMS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 18 June 1936, Page 6

GENERAL ITEMS

An entirely favourable attitude to the change-over of Auckland’s elec-tric-power from direct current to alternating' is taken by the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple, who has stated his willingness to expedite the necessary authority.. At a meeting of the Auckland ElectricPower Board, it was reported that the matter was now in the hands of the board’s solicitor, and as soon as the statutory requirements were drawn up they would be forwarded to the Minister for his approval. “Is that a safe inference? Laughter is very infectious,” said Mr Justice Callan in the Supreme Court at Auckland, when in the course of the re-trial of Mareo, the Crown Prosecutor, Mr Meredith, suggested that because a patient laughed at stories told her'she must have understood them. “Have you never had a case,” continued his Honour, “of a person who joined in the laugh but does not in the least know what the joke is about?” “That is very common in Court, sir,”, commented Mr O’Leary. “Yes,” said his Honour. "It depends on who is the joker.” A cable published yesterday under date London announced that 59 persons were killed and 29 injured. Owing to a mutilation'in transmission the message was wrongly dated and should have been Tallium, in Estonia. Forty head of cattle which had been brought from D’Urville Island by the scow Pearl Kasper were transferred onto the Nelson wharf in slings this morning, the operation taking about two hours. The cattle, which are owned by ThoAison Bros'., were driven out to paddocks at Stoke. The Loyal Nelson Lodge and Nelson Defence Rifle Club will hold another dance in the Oddfellows’ Hall on Saturday next. Good prizes will be given for the Early Bird and Monte Carlo, and as well as all the old time favourites the programme will ..include one-steps and a fox trot. During the supper interval at 10.10 p.m. a special item will be presented and dancing will resume at 10.30. With Mr H. Williams’ band to supply the music and Bro. G. S. Coleman as M.C. patrons can look forward to an enjoyable time. Alfred Gould advertises an extensive catalogue of superior furniture, etc., to be sold by auction to-morrow at the rooms at 2 p.m.* Week-end Specials at McKay’s. Ladies’ Interlock Pyjamas, best English quality, trimmed in contrast shade, trousers have shaped waistband. In Peach, Nile, Sky and Cream, 5/11.* Week-end Special. Ladies’ Winter Dressing Gowns in Molleton and Ripple Cloths. Cut on tailored lines, finished cord on pockets and collar. Saxe, Rose and Beige. Splendid value at 22/6 at McKay's.* Week-end Special at McKay’s. So warm, and so moderately priced— Fleece-lined Bloomers with silk thread planted fabric. All colours, in W. and O.S. Special price 4/6.*

Endorsement of the suggestion made last month in a report from the professor of geology at the Auckland University College, Professor J. A. Bartrum, that the subject of geography should be given greater attention at the college, is contained in a letter from the president of the Association of Heads of the Registered Secondary Schools of New Zealand, considered at a meeting of the College Council this week. The letter enclosed a remit passed by the association for reference to the councils of the three university colleges and the Otago University. The remit read: “That provision be made so that the university colleges may have funds to provide a full degree course in geography; that it be pointed out that whereas at the Cambridge University there is a chair for geography, provision for a full honours course, with specialists for six different branches, in this isolated country with peculiar needs for geographical knowledge, there is provision either for nothing at all or for stage 1, the teaching being either of over-worked geology professors or of lecturers without special geographical training.” The council referred the remit to the Professorial Board for consideration. The contention that rates at which electricity was supplied for domestic use in Christchurch offered little advantage over the rates in Auckland was made at a meeting of the Auckland Electric Power Board (reports the “Star”). Advice was received from the Christchurch board that the domestic rate had been reduced from Jd to Id. The chairman, Mr W. J. Holdsworth, said that while it appeared that a substantial cut had been made, it had to be remembered that in Christchurch the rate was net, as no concession was made for prompt payment. On the other hand, there was a penalty clause. In Auckland the rates were -|d, less 10 per cent. The concessions made in the southern city amounted to £12,000, whereas in Auckland the amount was £51,000. Christchurch had obtained its supply from Lake Coleridge at more favourable rates than Auckland had done later on, but when the present contract in Christchurch expired the price might be brought up to that paid by other boards. “Our maximum lighting rate of 3d per unit is about the finest in the British Empire. That is a big statement to make, but we have checxed up on it,” the chairman stated finally. “In this country we'are too insular,” Mr M. G. C. McCaul declared at a meeting of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce when he urged the need for greater population in New Zealand. “We sit down here, a small corner of the earth a long way from the centre of things, and think our thoughts and speak our speeches, and imagine that the whole world waits, watches and listens. It doesn’t do anything of the kind. We are very small potatoes, really.” When the funds of the South Taranaki Health Camps’ Association are expended the Hawera Hospital Board will accept liability for further children for whom a term at the Otaki camp is considered necessary (states the “Daily News”). The decision was made by the board this week after Mr L. O. Hooker had explained the position. For health camp purposes the money raised by the stamp campaign was allocated to hospital board districts, explained Mr Hooker. The amount collected in the Hawera district was £192, of which £lO was deducted for expenses, and that would soon be expended. The work should be done by the hospital boards, which were responsible for public health, considered Mr Hooker, instead of by an annual appeal which depended on individual generosity. In reply to Mr I. J. Bridger, Mr Hooker said he meant the cost of health camp treatment should be paid from the hospital rates, rather than that “the willing horse” should always carry the burden. The advantage would be that the cost would be spread over the whole district and there would be no need to call on those who were willing to pay. The amount collected in the last campaign was £12,000, of which £BOO was deducted as expenses, and in previous years that deduction had been as high as 50 per cent.' The Otaki health camp saved hospital boards much money, concluded Mr Hooker, and there had to be considered a way of continuing treatment for children needing it during the next five months, during which there would be no funds left.