GENERAL ITEMS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 22 June 1936, Page 4

GENERAL ITEMS

“The Mail” will be published as usual to-morrow (King’s Birthday). A correspondent in Saturday’s “Mail” drew the attention of “the Traffic Inspector of the Nelson City Council” to the number of cyclists on .he Wakapuaka road who ride at night without lights. It is pointed out mat Wakapuaka road is outside the jurisdiction of the city Traffic Inspeci tor. A special service was conducted in St.- John’s Methodist Church yesterday morning by the Rev. W. Rowe to mark the 94th anniversary of the first Methodist service held in Nelson in 1342 by the Rev. Samuel Ironside who at that time was a missionary at Cloudy Bay. When a farmer who has eight children and whose income was from 43 cows was brought before the Magistrate’s Court at Paeroa on a judgment summons for country rates, the magistrate (reports the “Siar’s” correspondent) criticised the action of the local body in taking Court action in a case in which a little inquiry would have shown that the income was insufficient to justify the making of an order. Fifteen shillings a week was a reasonable amount for the maintenance of a child, and as tiiere were tfight, the position was obvious here, the local body would be ordered to pay costs if the debtor applied for expenses. No order was made, and the defaulting ratepayer did not apply for costs. The Scottish Society’s Gala Dance at the Velma Hall to-morrow night in honour of the King’s Birthday, promises to be a right royal entertainment. A very large attendance is expected, and will be well catered for. The City Dance Band of six players will supply music for popular oldtime and modern dancing, and there will be numerous novelty dances, including Early Bird, Monte Carlo. Lucky Spot, etc., with really splendid prizes. Chieftain N. Henderson will carry out the duties of Master of Ceremonies.

Trouble over the control of amateur cycling in New Zealand, leading to a proposal from one party that the amateur association should secede from the New Zealand Cycling Federation controlling both branches of the sport, has been ended as the result of a conference at Christchurch. At the last meeting of the New Zealand Amateur Cycling Association’s executive the resolution of withdrawal proposed by Mr J. Fitzsimmons, the chairman of the executive, was declared out of order owing to the statutory limit of 14 days for circularisation of the resolution having been unobserved. To end the dispute Messrs A. It. Thomas, the association’s president, and Mr Fitzsimmons, were appointed to proceed to a conference with members of the federation at Christchurch. As a result of the conference, the federation agreed to withdraw its application for affiliation to the Olympic Association, a point of dispute with the amateur body, and it also agreed to recognise the necessity for adjustment of its constitution by friendly negotiation, another point. Many umbrellas, gloves, bags and boots left behind in Auckland trams during a period of nine months sold quickly and cheaply at auction a few days ago. There were nearly 1000 umbrellas, hundreds of pairs of gloves, bags, purses, football boots, Jerseys, jumpers and men’s suits, but nothing as startling as the petrified lady the same firm came across in a trunk among the abandoned effects of a circus troupe not long ago. Hundreds of people pressed into the rooms to take advantage of the incredible bargains that were going. It is quite likely that some of them recognised things they had left behind themselves —and had to buy them back again. As for the prices—“Four high-class gents’ umbrellas; here you are, ten bob the lot. Five bob the lot. Five and a half? Five half, five half. All high class. Six bob? Six, six, six, six . . . and six it is.” And there goes a huge bundle of gloves at eighteen pence.

The trustees of the Bishop Suter Art Gallery have arranged for the loan collection of the late Miss D. K. Richmond’s pictures to be exhibited in Nelson next week. This fine collection, which was gathered together by Mr H. H. Tombs, of Wellington, has now been shown in most of the other centres of New Zealand, and has everywhere excited great interest among lovers of art. It is hoped to open the exhibition in the Art Gallery next Monday afternoon.

Striking facts with regard to the temperature of schoolrooms in the northern area of the Taranaki Education Board’s district were placed before the board at its monthly meeting' by Mr J. A. Valentine, chairman, who recently visited Raekohua, Tahora, and Whangamamona schools (reports the “Star’s” New Plymouth correspondent). At Raekohua at 8 a.m. on 2nd June the temperature inside the school was 26 degrees; at 9 a.m., fires having been alight for about an hour, the temperature was 32 degrees, and throughout the day it was never higher than 50 degrees. At Tahora at 7.30 a.m. on 2nd June the temperature at the schoolroom was 23 degrees, at 9 a.m. 29 degrees, and during the day never higher than 47 degrees. At Whangamomona the temperature of the rooms at 8 a.m. was 20 degrees, the water in the heating pipes was frozen, and when a fire was put on in the stove an explosion occurred, damaging the stove, but not beyond repair. “Can children carry on mental work effectively amidst such conditions?” Mr Valentine asked.

The Court of Appeal last week granted leave to the plaintiff to appeal in forma pauperis in the case Byrne v. Millward, which was heard in the Supreme Court in Nelson. Mr M. C. H. Cheek appeared for the plaintiff.

Those who served in the last war and were married within seven years of discharge know that provision will be made for their dependants if death occurs from war causes, but those who served in the South African War are not so favourably placed. When pension provisions were being discussed at the annual conference of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association, the Dominion president of the South African War Veterans’ Association (Mr J. I. Goldsmith) raised the question of placing South African veterans on the same footing as veterans of the Great War, but it was held that the absence of legislative provision prevented action being taken.

Dominion live stock breeders recently in Australia have returned very much impressed with the improved quality of the Commonwealth’s cattle and sheep and concerned over the organised effort of breeders across the Tasman to capture a leading position in the matter of the quality of both lamb and beef. “We are shaping for a nasty bump,” remarked one widelyknown sheep breeder, when discussing the Australian position with a Manawatu “Times” representative, “and unless those interested in the fat lamb industry are prepared to sit up and take notice of what our Australian competitors are doing, we can say goodbye to our supremacy in the fat lamb trade on the London market. The position Australia has reached in her efforts to produce high quality lamb is such as to give us cause for serious concern and my conviction is that we must without further delay, seriously tackle the problem of improving the quality of our flocks to enable us to meet the challenge of the fat lamb breeders of the Commonwealth.”

Members of the Nelson Rotary Club attended Divine service at the Church of Christ last evening, when Pastor J. K. Robinson delivered an inspiring address on the solution of present-day difficulties.

A meeting of Hills Fruitgrowers is being held at Tasman, on Saturday next, for the purpose of electing delegates to attend the Provincial Conference, and discussing remits for consideration at that conference. In view of the great importance of some of these remits all growers are urged to attend.

“0.K.,” said the weed merchant, “there’s lots of brands of tobacco, as you say, but in a manner of speaking, you can divide them broadly into two classes-—the toasted and the untoastcd: yes, and I’ll tell you something more—once you take to toasted—the real thing, mind—you won’t care a row of pins about the untoasted, no matter what the brand is.” The customer looked thoughtful. “Can toasting really made all that difference?” he ventured. “It,can —and it does!” declared the tobacconist emphatically, “the toasting of tobacco is one of the most ingenious and efficient processes as yet invented. What does it do? Why, it cuts out the nicotine and at the same time gives this tobacco that fine, pure, clean, sweet fragrance smokers love. You can smoke any amount of it with safety—and. mv word! —you enjoy every whiff!” “1 must certainly have a tin,” laughed the customer, “a small one just to try it out..” “You’ll want a big one. next time,” prophesied the tobacconist, “you wait and see.”*

The Auckland Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, on the recommendation of its membership committee, ruled that women could become members, states the “New Zealand Herald.” An inquiry had been received from a woman employee of a member company as to whether favourable consideration would be given to an application from her for associate membership, it was reported, and the committee could see no reason why women as such should be excluded. Mr G. Jackson, who presided, said under the existing rules there was no power to exclude women members in general even if desired, although applications could be refused on personal grounds. There had been one previous woman member of the chamber. On behalf of the membership committee, Mr R. A. Spinley said there appeared no reason in the light of modern conditions why women should not become members. They appeared advocates in conciliation proceedings, entered the medical, legal, and other professions, and took a prominent place in modern life. There is at present one firm a member of the council of which the principal is a_woman, but a male representative Tias acted on her behalf. There are no women associate members from the staffs of member firms.

The Huddart Parker steamer Wanganeila will make a cruise from-Auck-land on Wednesday, 30th December, to Whangaroa Harbour, Russell, Bay of Islands, Port Fitzroy, and Kawau, returning to Auckland in the evening of 3rd January. The Wanganella will also make a cruise from Wellington to Milford Sound on 15th February, returning to Wellington on Friday morning, 19th February.

“Mr Semple is not the first Minister who has done his level best only to find out that efforts have not been met with 100 per cent, support from those they were designed to help,” i.comments the Auckland “Star”). The Motueka branch of the New Zealand Workers’ Union has passed a resolution general in terms and condemnatory in character. Mr Semple feels insulted, and although he admits that there has been no violation of the agreement, he suggests that he will cancel it unless the resolution be withdrawn. Resolutions of the type passed at Motueka cannot be defended. If the workers there have specific grievances, or if they are not satisfied with the general terms of the agreement, they should state their case in a constructive manner and should give valid reasons for their objections. But what would Mr Semple have said if his predecessor in office had torn up an agreement, or any part of it, because of an intemperate and ill-con-sidered resolution possibly engineered by two or three disgruntled men? Ministers, of whatever party or colour, must expect criticism, and even when it is ill-informed and not constructive in character, their resentment should not take the form of threats to withdraw conditions which have been agreed upon.”

An interesting fact regarding the 75th anniversary of the Bank of New South Wales is that the Loyal Antipodean Lodge of Oddfellows, Manchester Unity, Wellington district, has had its account with the bank since the year 1861, and the account is still going strong'. For an account to be running continuously with the one bank for 75 years is said to be unique, and probably constitutes a record for New Zealand.

The Nelson Wrestling Association has been allotted a match between Earl McCready and Cowboy Russell, and the bout will take place at the Theatre Royal on Saturday night.

The Fire Brigade this morning received a call to Fell House, Trafalfar street South, where a blazing chimney was extinguished. The fire caused no damage.

During the course of his first intersessional address to his electors at Takapuna, Mr W. J. Lyon, M.P. for Waitemata, commented on some of the personalities, both Government and Opposition, in the House of Representatives (reports the “Star”). “In the House we fight our opponents ..often very heatedly, but outside the Chamber there is a great degree of respect shown,” he said. “Here I want to pay a tribute to ah opponent —the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates. I have heard all over New Zealand things about this gentleman that are absolutely untrue. No one has been more maligned than Mr Coates. I have only seen him in Bellamy’s once, and on that occasion he was drinking tea —very weak tea at that. It Is only fair, when an opponent has been maligned, no matter how much you may even detest his political ideas, to protect his personal character when it is assailed. I have the greatest respect for the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates.”

The Postal authorities advise that inland air mails will be dispatched and sorted as usual to-morrow.

Mapua residents are informed of the concert in aid of the Plunket and Rest Rooms to be held on Wednesday, 24th-June, in the Mapua Hall. Nelson’s leading artists assisted by Clarrie Lee at the piano.