GENERAL ITEMS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 18 October 1937, Page 4

GENERAL ITEMS

Stamps (o bn Withdrawn

The “New Zealand Stamp Collector/' edited by Mr R. J. G. Collins, R.D.Ph., issues the following information of interest to stamp collectors: “The Id pictorial stamp has created some little trouble for the postal authorities because the design makes it difficult to ensure that copies will show the postmark clearly, particularly when the new packet cancellation is being employed. After due consideration the authorities have decided to withdraw the stamp, together with the Id, and for these, the two most widely used of our stamps, new designs incorporating the portrait of His Majesty King George VI will be issued eariy next year. A special photograph of His Majesty the King has been taken and has received royal approval and the stamps will be printed in London.”

New School for Dargavillc

The Auckland Education Board advises that it has accepted the tender of Mr R. Guy, of Swanson, for the erection of the Dargaville District High School, replacing the building destroyed by fire in April, states a Press Association message from Dargaville. The new structure will be erected upon a 14-acre site, taking full advantage of fresh air and sunshine. There will be six classrooms with a laboratory. library, and cloakrooms. Railway First-aid Work The comprehensive way in which the Railway Department provides first-aid equipment and training for its men was described by an officer of the Department at the conference in Wellington of the Order of St. John (reports “The Post”). There were 350 railway stations equipped with ambulance stretchers, he said, and 750 with first-aid boxes, and in addition all Departmental workshops were so equipped. Wellington, Dunedin, and Frankton Junction stations had ambulance rooms, and every guard’s van had its first-aid box. Members of the platform staffs were qualified in first-aid work and wore the St. John Ambulance badge. To encourage its own St. John Ambulance Divisions the Department gave the men leave on pay and rail passes to participate in annual competition with other St. John Divisions, and it paid the men’s class fees and provided all their equipment. In the last eight years it had spent £2500 on fees and equipment, and since 1928 1500 employees had qualified as trained St. John Ambulance men. At the instrucstruction of the General Manager, Mr G. H. Mackley, the Department proposed to extend its first-aid training still further.

Frosts and Potatoes

Hard frosts have been taking (oil of the potato crop in the North Otago district during the last few days (says ihe Dunedin “Star”). Frosts have been general in all parts of the district, the recordings in some places being as high as 12deg. Tn Oamaru 9deg, were registered recently with dire results to young potatoes. Many farmers have had their entire crops cut down to the ground, and it is anticipated that heavy losses will result. Diet For An Archbishop “Never have a daughter who's great on diet. Mine has made me what I am on cabbage water, and I am not sure that it is worth the cost,” said Archbishop Julius, at his ninetieth birthday dinner (reports “The Press”). He was responding on behalf of his daughter, Miss Ada Julius, to whom a presentation had been made on behalf of the wives and daughters of the clergy of the diocese. Reference had been made to Miss Julius as “the power behind the throne,” and the Archbsihop said that he would never have been able to enjoy his retirement as he had without the help and devotion of his daughter, his debt to whom he could not even begin to tell. Record Divorce Petitions The number of petitions filed in New Zealand last year for dissolution of marriage was 1099. It was 232 more than in 1935, and is the greatest figure ever recorded. The number of decrees nisi (933) and decrees absolute (849) show very substantial rises, and are also the highest on record. Petitions for restitution of conjugal rights were 39 more than in 1935.

“Wot ’o, Bob!” greeted the bus driver as that worthy climbed aboard, "vou ain’t looking none too spry, and it’s fust time I seen yer wifout a pipe in your moufs. Wot’s up, ole sport.” “’Ad ter chuck smokin’, Bill. Getting that jumpy, couldn’t ’ardly set still. Nerves, the Chemist sez. But I miss me ole pipe somefin cruel.” “’Course you do! Couldn’t do wifout mine; sooner do wifout me blinking tucker. Wot’s yer bacca?” “Black twist, been smokin’ of it constant.” "And now it’s let you down? and no wonder!—chock-a-block wif nicotine—same as lots more brands Why don’t you smoke ’toasted.’ same as yours truly?—sweet as a nut. Bokay to beat the band! Won’t play up wif yer nerves, neither. Ain’t no nicotine in it ’ardly. Chuck yer pipe?—not ’arf. if yer smokes ‘toasted’.” Bob brightened up. Going to change over to toasted He’ll find the bus driver’s right! Five brands to choose from: Cut Plug No. 10 (Bullshead). Navy Cut No. 3 (Bulldog). Cavendish. Riverhead Gold, and Desert Gold —the only genuine “Toasted” manufactured* At McKay’s.— Ladies’ Sports Blouses in superior quality Locknit. Fancy stripes and checks. From 5/11. *

Birds and Aeroplanes How a study of the wings of certain types of birds of prey led to the invention ol a slotted wing to stabilise aeroplanes travelling at slow speeds was recounted by Mr R. A. Falla, Curator ol the Canterbury Museum, in an address in Christchurch. Among the birds of prey, such as owls and hawks, which had slotted wing-tips, was the New Zealand kea. The slotted wings, Mr Falla explained, prevented the formation of a partial vacuum and of eddies, and by maintaining friction at the tips prevented the tendency to fall rapidly. A study of the problem had been directly responsible for the invention ol the slotted wing device for aeroplanes. The opposite type of bird to the kea was the albatross, which, when alighting on the waves, had “to apply its foot brakes," by spreading its feet against the surface of the water.

Anti-aircraft Guns Although tests have revealed that Australian-made anti-aircraft guns are entirely satisfactory, they will not be able to be used for at least two years, because of the difficulty of obtaining vital firing gauges from England (says the Melbourne “Age”). The gauges, which are known as predictors, regulate the accuracy and speed of firing. Without them the guns are useless for all practical purposes. Trial anti-air-craft guns recently received thorough testing at Point Cook. In view of their satisfactory performance large numbers will be made for equipping coastal defences. The lack of gauges, however, further illustrates the unhappy position in which Australia is placed because of her present inability to produce the necessary precision parts. Local manufacturers are quite capable of manufacturing delicate tools and gauges provided they are given the necessary specifications and orders. Electricity in State Houses “There seems to be very great difficulty indeed in obtaining from the Government departments that direct and substantial support which one would think would be available to an industry largely Government-owned and wholly administered by the people themselves,” said a report submitted to the New Zealand Electric Power Boards and Supply Authorities’ Association at its annual conference at Wellington. The report pointed out that, in spile of strong representations by the association, the Government had decided to electrify only 50 per cent, of State houses, and. when installing hot-water services in railway dwellings had converted existing fuel cooking ranges. The association considered that full electrification of all State houses would have been in the best interests of the tenants and the country as a whole. Electric washing machines, for instance, could be installed at a fraction of the cost of an old-fashioned wash-house and would do the same work.

A Motion Lost Although there was strong support for a notice of motion to alter the rules providing that any member convicted for the second time on the charge of drunkenness while in charge of a n otor vehicle shall at once be struck off the roll, introduced by Mr A. J. Lowe at the 34th annual meeting of the Automobile Association (Auckland), the motion was lost. A past president, Mr A. Grayson, pointed out that the council of ihe association already had power to suspend or strike off any member for breaches of discipline.

A Shipment of Frogs

An interesting item of cargo made its appearance on Bluff wharf a few days ago. This was a shipment of frogs. By the transtasman freighter Karetu (says the “Southland News”) there came a container of several hundred live frogs. These were landed at Bluff and sent by rail to Dunedin and are destined for Otago University. Just what kind of frog they were was not known to those in charge, but they said that similar shipments to the same destination had occurred previously. They came in charge of the bo-sun, but the chief steward (Mr Garland) had interested himself in their welfare on the trip across. The shipment had been featured in the Sydney papers, said Mr Garland, but he was unable to find a copy on board. He said he thought the frogs were a smaller variety than those common to New Zealand, where, of course, they have been introduced and are not indigenous.

Parochial Debts “The parochial debts at the present time amount to over £30.000, and the interest on such a sum is necessarily very considerable and very crippling,” said Archbishop Averill, D.D., to the annual synod of the Anglican Diocese at Auckland (reports the “Star”). “The debts commission is suggesting that the diocese should endeavour to raise a considerable sum of money by means of debentures paying 21 per cent, interest, that the diocese should take over (he debts, not perhaps all at once, and that the parishes concerned should pay Interest and sinking fund and a small charge for management to the diocese amounting in all to 41 per cent., and that the parishes concerned should pledge all their available assets to the diocese as security for their annual payments. The diocese on its part would have to provide security for the money of the debenture-holders.” An Appreciated Gift Such splendid work has been clone by Miss Thelma Webby on the knitting machine which was given by Mrs Grace Fox to the Nelson branch of the Cripplied Children Society, that it is suggested that if there are any other v used knitting machines in the district the society could make good use of them.

Teachers’ Salaries and Staffing

The report of the Staffing and Salaries Committee in connection with education in New Zealand has now been completed and will be presented to the Minister (the Hon. P. Fraser) this week. Mr H. J. Thornton, secretary of the Nelson Education Board, a member of the committee, to-day thanked the board for the opportunity of sitting on the committee. He hoped the report would be adopted as it contained recommendations which would give improved staffing and salary conditions.

In an advertisement appearing on page 2 the Carlton Hygienic Dairy draws attention to the recommendation by a prominent doctor of the use of pasteurised milk in cases rf infantile paralysis epidemics.* At McKay’s—Ladies’ Sports Millinery in comfy styles and all head fittings. White and colours from 12/6.* A general meeting of the Motueka District Fruit Exporters’ Association will be held in the Jubilee Hall, Lower Moutere. on Monday, 25th October, at 8 p.m., when local market grades will be discussed, and recommendations made. All fruitgrowers are urged to attend. At McKay’s,—Ladies’ smartly Tailored Frocks in striped art silk. Wide rever collars and pleats in skirts. S.S.W.. S.W. and 0.5., L5/11.*